uld swallow
up his five shillings and leave him without the means of getting to the
steamer. He addressed himself to a friendly-looking porter who was
staring at him with a certain amount of curiosity, seeing he had no
luggage:

"What does it cost to get a bed in there for the night?" he said.

The porter grinned satirically.

"More nor such as you can pay. Yer wouldn't get much change out of a
sovereign, I'll be sworn."

He walked down the platform, and Jeff saw that he was making merry with
one of his friends over his inquiry. In terror lest some detaining
hand might even yet be stretched forth, he hurried out of the station
and was soon lost in the small streets about King's Cross.

He at length found a humble-looking lodging, attracted thereto by a
card in the window, to the effect that "Lodgings for single men" were
to be had.

The woman who opened the door to him looked doubtfully at this youthful
customer, but the production of a couple of shillings and an offer from
Jeff to pay in advance settled all difficulty.

"I am going down to the docks to-morrow to meet my mother, who is
coming from India," he said, giving a frank explanation of his plans.
"I shall have to leave quite early and I will pay you to-night."

The woman smiled at the dignified attitude of her would-be lodger, and
bade him come in and she would find him a bed to suit.

She saw very well that this was no roughly-nurtured child, and possibly
guessed partly at the truth.

There were two or three labouring men taking supper in a back kitchen,
and a strong smell of onions and frying fat pervaded the atmosphere.

Jeff felt it would not do to appear squeamish in such company, and drew
near to the fire, making a pretence of warming his hands.

"Here's a new lodger, Timothy; you make room for him," said the woman
with a broad grin.

"Runned away from school, young marster, I'll be bound," said one rough
giant, catching hold of Jeff by the arm. The boy turned his brown eyes
steadily on his captor.

"No, I have never been at any school," he said with composure. "But
they would not let me meet my mother, who is coming home from India, so
I took all the money out of my savings-box and came by the train
without telling anyone."

The navvy released him.

"From Ingy! That's a long way to come. And they wouldn't let you meet
her! It was a darned shame. You're a well plucked one for your size.
Can ye stand treat, young maister? We'l