e.

"You must be greatly amazed," he said, "at my presuming to bother you
about your family affairs."

"Oh, no!" she replied. "I think you are kind, but your words have made
me very anxious."

"Then," said Lawson, "you see for yourself that things are not all
right."

"I have known that for some time."

"George is a great friend of mine," continued Lawson. "We saw a good
deal of each other when he first came to town--he was a right jolly sort
of fellow then; it was only about six months ago that, all of a sudden,
he seemed to change. I suppose he took up with some bad companions, but
I really can't say for certain."

"But what about him now?" said Effie, in a voice almost irritable with
anxiety. "Have you anything fresh to tell me?"

"You heard him, probably, say to your mother that he had a rise of
salary?"

"Yes."

"The fact is," continued Lawson, "I know that not to be true."

Effie also in her heart of hearts knew it not to be true, but she could
not bear to hear a stranger abuse her brother.

"How can you be sure?" she said, somewhat inconsistently.

"How can I be sure?" he retorted. "This is not a matter of sentiment, I
happen to know. George is working with a relative, it is true, but Mr.
Gering is one of the hardest men in the City. Everyone who understands
him knows the system on which he works, and a relative has no more
chance with him than another. George will have to take his rise step by
step at something like the rate of ten pounds a year. Perhaps he has
told your mother that he has had quite a large rise."

"He said a hundred a year; he said he was now receiving two hundred a
year."

"What is to be done?" said Lawson, "Something ought to be done to stop
it. Your mother will certainly live beyond her means, and then you will
all get into no end of a mess. Do forgive me for taking an interest; the
fact is, George was a great friend of mine once."

"Oh, please don't give him up!" said Effie. "If good men turn against
him, what chance has he, poor fellow?"

"I won't, if you wish me to look after him," said Lawson, giving her a
quick glance.

At this moment two nurses from St. Joseph's Hospital, who were crossing
the street, saw Effie. They noticed her earnest face, the sparkle in her
eyes; they also observed the glance which the handsome young medical
student gave her. The women nudged one another, smiled, and went on.

Effie never saw them.

"Let us walk a little faster," said Laws