girl, for instance, the top of whose bonnet just
reached as high as the counter, who, regularly every Monday morning,
staggered in under the weight of a bundle containing her father's Sunday
clothes, and, as regularly every Saturday evening, returned to redeem
them. It was evident her respectable parent did not attend many evening
parties between those two days, for I never remember his sending for
them except at the regular times.

Then there was the wretched drunkard, who crept in stealthily, with now
a child's coat, now a picture, now a teapot; and with the money thus
raised walked straight across the road to the public-house. And there
was his haggard, worn wife, who always came next day with the ticket,
and indignantly took back her household goods. There was the young
sailor's wife, too, with her baby in her arms, who came rarely at first,
but afterwards more often, to pawn her few poor treasures, until at
length a glad day came when the brawny tar himself, with his pockets
full of cash, came with her and redeemed them every one.

I could tell of scores of others if I wished, but I have my own life to
record, and not the transactions of my master, the pawnbroker.

One day, towards the end of the first year, the door opened softly and
quickly, and there entered into the office a youth, haggard and
reckless-looking, whom, I thought, surely I had seen before. I looked
again.

Was it possible? Yes! this was none other than Tom Drift! But oh, how
changed! A year ago, erring and wayward as he had been, he was yet
respectable; his dress was the dress of a gentleman; his bearing was
that of a gentleman too; his face had been naturally intelligent and
pleasant; and his voice clear and cheerful. But now! There was a wild,
restless roll about his eyes, a bright flush on his hollow cheeks, a
dulness about his mouth, a hoarseness in his voice, which seemed to
belong to another being. He was dissipated and seedy in appearance, and
hung his head, as though ashamed to meet a fellow-being's look, and,
instead of one, looked at least ten years older than he had.

Such a wreck will evil ways make of a youth! He looked eagerly round,
to see that no one but he was in the office, and then produced from his
pocket a scarf-pin.

"What will you give me for this?" he whispered.

The pawnbroker took it up and turned it over. It was a handsome pin,
with a pearl in the front.

"Ten shillings," said the pawnbroker.

"Wh