clared against the outrage! Natures such as hers are as little
to be judged by that which is conventionally the highest standard as by
that which is the lowest. The tendencies which we agree to call good
and bad became in her merely directions of a native force which was at
all times in revolt against circumstance. Characters thus moulded may
go far in achievement, but can never pass beyond the bounds of
suffering. Never is the world their friend, nor the world's law. As
often as our conventions give us the opportunity, we crush them out of
being; they are noxious; they threaten the frame of society. Oftenest
the crushing is done in such a way that the hapless creatures seem to
have brought about their own destruction. Let us congratulate
ourselves; in one way or other it is assured that they shall not
trouble us long.

Her father was somewhat later than usual in returning from work. When
he entered her room she looked at him anxiously, and as he seemed to
have nothing particular to say, she asked if he had seen Mr. Kirkwood.

'No, my dear, I ain't seen him.'

Their eyes met for an instant. Clara was in anguish at the thought that
another night and day must pass and nothing be altered.

'When did you see him last? A week or more ago, wasn't it?'

'About that.'

'Couldn't you go round to his lodgings to-night? I know he's got
something he wants to speak to you about.'

He assented. But on his going into the other room Eagles met him with a
message from Sidney, anticipating his design, and requesting him to
step over to Bed Lion Street in the course of the evening. John
instantly announced this to his daughter. She nodded, but said nothing.

In a few minutes John went on his way. The day's work had tired him
exceptionally, doubtless owing to his nervousness, and again on the way
to Sidney's he had recourse to a dose of the familiar stimulant. With
our eyes on a man of Hewett's station we note these little things; we
set them down as a point scored against him; yet if our business were
with a man of leisure, who, owing to worry, found his glass of wine at
luncheon and again at dinner an acceptable support, we certainly should
not think of paying attention to the matter. Poverty makes a crime of
every indulgence. John himself came out of the public-house in a
slinking way, and hoped Kirkwood might not scent the twopenny-worth of
gin.

Sidney was in anything but a mood to detect this little lapse in his
visitor. H