his sturdy, impertinent notes--and
the poor little woman concluded there was no chance there. She knew
little of the rector--of the profound humility and entire placability of
that noble soul.

Well, she took the opposite direction, and turning her back on the town,
walked at her quickest pace toward the Brass Castle. It was not eight
o'clock yet, but the devil had been up betimes and got through a good
deal of his day's work, as we have seen. The poor little woman had made
up her mind to apply to Dangerfield. She had liked his talk at Belmont,
where she had met him; and he enquired about the poor, and listened to
some of her woful tales with a great deal of sympathy; and she knew he
was very rich, and that he appreciated her Barney, and so she trudged
on, full of hope, though I don't think many people who knew the world
better would have given a great deal for her chance.

Dangerfield received the lady very affably, in his little parlour, where
having already despatched his early meal, he was writing letters. He
looked hard at her when she came in, and again when she sat down; and
when she had made an end of her long and dismal tale, he opened a sort
of strong box, and took out a thin quarto and read, turning the leaves
rapidly over.

'Ay, here we have him--Chapelizod--Sturk, Barnabas--Surgeon, R.I.A.,
assignee of John Lowe--hey! one gale day, as you call it,
only!--September. How came that? Rent, L40. Why, then, he owes a whole
year's rent, L40, Ma'am. September, and his days of grace have expired.
He ought to have paid it.'

Here there came a dreadful pause, during which nothing was heard but the
sharp ticking of his watch on the table.

'Well, Ma'am,' he said, 'when a thing comes before me, I say yes or no
promptly. I like your husband, and I'll lend him the amount of his
rent.'

Poor little Mrs. Sturk jumped up in an ecstasy, and then felt quite
sick, and sat down almost fainting, with a deathlike smile.

'There's but one condition I attach, that you tell me truly, my dear
Ma'am, whether you came to me directly or indirectly at his suggestion.'

No, indeed, she had not; it was all her own thought; she had not dared
to mention it to him, lest he should forbid her, and now she should be
almost afraid to tell him where she had been.

'He'll not be very angry, depend on't, my good Madam; you did wisely in
coming to me. I respect your sense and energy; and should you hereafter
stand in need of a friendly off