m of intelligence shot across the boy's face as he stopped and
caught his brother by the sleeve, saying earnestly:

"It wasn't _you_, Frank, _was_ it?"

"It was, Willie, and right glad am I to have been in such good luck as
to save Miss Auberly."

Willie grasped his brother's hand and shook it heartily.

"You're a brick, Blazes," said he, "and this is your birthday, an' I
wish you luck an' long life, my boy. You'll do me credit yet, if you go
on as you've begun. Now, I'll go right away back an' tell mother.
Won't she be fit to bu'st?"

"But what about your message to the relation in the City?" inquired
Frank.

"That relation is yourself, and here's the message, in the shape of a
pair o' socks from mother; knitted with her own hands; and, by the way,
that reminds me--how came you to be at the fire last night? It's a long
way from your station."

"I've been changed recently," said Frank; "poor Grove was badly hurt
about the loins at a fire in New Bond Street last week, and I have been
sent to take his place, so I'm at the King Street station now. But I
have something more to tell you before you go, lad, so walk with me a
bit farther."

Willie consented, and Frank related to him his conversation with Mr
Auberly in reference to himself.

"I thought of asking leave and running out this afternoon to tell you,
so it's as well we have met, as it will--Why, what are _you_ chuckling
at, Willie?"

This question was put in consequence of the boy's eyes twinkling and his
cheeks reddening with suppressed merriment.

"Never mind, Blazes. I haven't time to tell you just now. I'll tell
you some other time. So old Auberly wants to see me to-morrow
forenoon?"

"That's what he said to me," returned Frank.

"Very good; I'll go. Adoo, Blazes--farewell."

So saying, Willie Willders turned round and went off at a run, chuckling
violently. He attempted to whistle once or twice, but his mouth refused
to retain the necessary formation, so he contented himself with
chuckling instead. And it is worthy of record that that small boy was
so much engrossed with his own thoughts on this particular occasion that
he did not make one observation, bad, good, or indifferent, to any one
during his walk home. He even received a question from a boy smaller
than himself as to whether "his mother knew he was out," without making
any reply, and passed innumerable policemen without even a thought of
vengeance!

"Let me see," said he,