distinguish the person who sat behind the counter. 'Is Pennyloaf in,
Mrs. Todd?'

'Yes, Miss. Will you walk through?'

The room behind is lighted from the ceiling. It is heaped with the most
miscellaneous clothing. It contains two beds, some shelves with
crockery, a table, some chairs--but it would have taken you a long time
to note all these details, so huddled together was everything. Part of
the general huddling were five children, of various ages; and among
them, very busy, sat Pennyloaf.

'Everything going on well?' was Jane's first question.

'Yes, Miss.'

'Then I know it isn't. Whenever you call me "Miss," there's something
wrong; I've learnt that.'

Pennyloaf smiled, sadly but with affection in her eyes. 'Well, I have
been a bit low, an' that's the truth. It takes me sometimes, you know.
I've been thinkin', when I'd oughtn't.'

'Same with me, Pennyloaf. We can't help thinking, can we? What a good
thing if we'd nothing more to think about than these children! Where's
little Bob? Why, Bob, I thought you were old clothes; I did, really!
You may well laugh!'

The laughter was merry, and Jane encouraged it, inventing all sorts of
foolish jokes. 'Pennyloaf, I wish you'd ask me to stay to tea.'

'Then that I will, Miss Jane, an' gladly. Would you like it soon?'

'No; in an hour will do, won't it? Give me something that wants sewing,
a really hard bit, something that'll break needles. Yes, that'll do.
Where's Mrs. Todd's thimble? Now we're all going to be comfortable, and
we'll have a good talk.'

Pennyloaf found the dark thoughts slip away insensibly. And she talked,
she talked--where was there such a talker as Pennyloaf nowadays, when
she once began?

Mr. Byass was not very willing, after all, to give up his country
travelling. That his departure on that business befell at a moment of
domestic quarrel was merely chance; secretly he had made the
arrangement with his firm some weeks before. The penitence which
affected him upon Jane's appeal could not be of abiding result; for,
like all married men at a certain point of their lives, he felt
heartily tired of home and wished to see the world a little. Hanover
Street heard endless discussions of the point between Sam and Bessie,
between Bessie and Jane, between Jane and Sam, between all three
together. And the upshot was that Mr. Byass gained his point. For a
time he would go on country journeys. Bessie assented sullenly, but,
strange to say, she had nev