pite the little woman's
fresh beauty, to get away after service unaccosted by the elders,--who
could imagine that _these_ were from so deep a nook in poverty's vale?

There was one person who guessed it: Mrs. Riley, who was not asked to
walk in any more when she called at the twilight hour. She partly saw
and partly guessed the truth, and offered what each one of the pair had
been secretly hoping somebody, anybody, would offer--a loan. But when
it actually confronted them it was sweetly declined.

"Wasn't it kind?" said Mary; and John said emphatically, "Yes." Very
soon it was their turn to be kind to Mrs. Riley. They attended her
husband's funeral. He had been killed by an explosion. Mrs. Riley beat
upon the bier with her fists, and wailed in a far-reaching voice:--

"O Mike, Mike! Me jew'l, me jew'l! Why didn't ye wait to see the babe
that's unborn?"

And Mary wept. And when she and John reentered their denuded house she
fell upon his neck with fresh tears, and kissed him again and again, and
could utter no word, but knew he understood. Poverty was so much better
than sorrow! She held him fast, and he her, while he tenderly hushed
her, lest a grief, the very opposite of Mrs. Riley's, should overtake
her.

CHAPTER XIV.

HARD SPEECHES AND HIGH TEMPER.

Dr. Sevier found occasion, one morning, to speak at some length, and
very harshly, to his book-keeper. He had hardly ceased when John
Richling came briskly in.

"Doctor," he said, with great buoyancy, "how do you do?"

The physician slightly frowned.

"Good-morning, Mr. Richling."

Richling was tamed in an instant; but, to avoid too great a contrast
of manner, he retained a semblance of sprightliness, as he said:--

"This is the first time I have had this pleasure since you were last
at our house, Doctor."

"Did you not see me one evening, some time ago, in the omnibus?" asked
Dr. Sevier.

"Why, no," replied the other, with returning pleasure; "was I in the
same omnibus?"

"You were on the sidewalk."

"No-o," said Richling, pondering. "I've seen you in your carriage
several times, but you"--

"I didn't see you."

Richling was stung. The conversation failed. He recommenced it in a tone
pitched intentionally too low for the alert ear of Narcisse.

"Doctor, I've simply called to say to you that I'm out of work and
looking for employment again."

"Um--hum," said the Doctor, with a cold fulness of voice that hurt
Richling afresh. "You'll fin