't pay a dollar towards it," said the cooper. "It's the first
time, in five years that I've lived here, that this thing has happened
to me. I've always been prompt before."

"You should have economized as you found times growing harder," said
Colman, harshly. "It is hardly honest to live in a house when you know
you can't pay the rent."

"You sha'n't lose it Mr. Colman," said the cooper, earnestly. "No one
ever yet lost anything by me. Only give me time, and I will pay you
all."

The landlord shook his head.

"You ought to cut your coat according to your cloth," he responded.
"Much as it will go against my feelings, under the circumstances I am
compelled by a prudent regard to my own interests to warn you that, in
case your rent is not ready to-morrow, I shall be obliged to trouble
you to find another tenement; and furthermore, the rent of this will be
raised five dollars a quarter."

"I can't pay it, Mr. Colman," said the cooper; "I may as well say that
now; and it's no use my agreeing to pay more rent. I pay all I can
afford now."

"Very well, you know the alternative. But it is a disagreeable subject.
We won't talk of it now; I shall be round to-morrow morning. How's your
excellent sister; as cheerful as ever?"

"Quite as much so as usual," answered the cooper, dryly.

"But there's one favor I should like to ask, if you will allow us to
remain here a few days till I can look about me a little."

"I would with the greatest pleasure in the world," was the reply, "but
there's another family very anxious to take the house, and they wish to
come in immediately. Therefore I shall be obliged to ask you to move out
to-morrow. In fact that is the very thing I came here this evening to
speak about, as I thought you might not wish to pay the increased rent."

"We are much obliged to you," said the cooper, with a tinge of
bitterness unusual to him. "If we are to be turned out of doors, it is
pleasant to have a few hours' notice of it."

"Turned out of doors, my good friend! What disagreeable expressions you
employ! It is merely a matter of business. I have an article to dispose
of. There are two bidders; yourself and another person. The latter is
willing to pay a larger sum. Of course I give him the preference. Don't
you see how it is?"

"I believe I do," replied the cooper. "Of course, it's a regular
proceeding; but you must excuse me if I think of it in another light,
when I reflect that to-morrow at this time m