ung Harry Waterman had evidently taken
a liking to him. "You will come, won't you?" went on Waterman; "just
the same lot, you know."

"Ay, I think so," said Tom.

"That's all right, then; we'll look out for you about seven."

"Where are you going to-night?" asked Alice.

"Only with Mr. Waterman," replied Tom.

"But where?"

"To a kind of club we have at the Rose and Crown. Come now, Alice,
it's no use looking like that; you can't expect me to be a ninny.
Besides, Waterman's a swell, he is the son of a squire."

"That is how you are going to spend your Sunday evening, then?" said
the girl.

"Certainly," replied Tom. He felt angry that Alice should interfere
with his pleasures. Besides, he remembered that Waterman had once said
to him that any fellow was a fool who allowed a woman to interfere with
his pleasures.

"I see you have made your choice," said Alice.

"Look here, Alice," said Tom angrily, "if you mean that you expect me
to behave like a Methody parson, I have. I mean to get on, and
Waterman can help me; and--and---- I say, Alice, don't look like
that!" for the look in the girl's eyes had almost destroyed the
influence which Waterman had over him.

"I am going home now," said the girl.

"May I come with you?" asked Tom.

"That depends," replied the girl; "either you must be as you were when
I first walked out with you, or we must part."

"You mean good-bye for ever?"

"Just that," she replied. "Oh, Tom, can't you see! Can't you see!
Won't you promise, Tom? I don't know anything about young Waterman;
but I know he is not having a good influence on you, and, Tom, why do
you want to break my heart?"

Still Tom was undecided. He wanted Alice more than words could say; he
felt there was no girl like her in all the wide world, and he knew that
the last few months had not done him any good. But there was another
side. He was only a weaver, and he had been proud to associate with
Waterman, who was friendly with big manufacturers. But to give up
Alice? No, he could not do that. He heard a loud laugh close by his
side, and walking towards the Band-stand he saw Polly Powell with Jim
Dixon.

Yes, Alice looked pale and bloodless beside Polly Powell. Polly had no
squeamish narrow-minded notions. Polly loved a good joke and a laugh,
and was not tied down to Sunday-school rule. The daughter of the
landlord of the Thorn and Thistle caught Tom's eye.

"I shall see you to-night, shan't I,