t one for myself, you storm and rage as if
I was thinking of marrying a convict."

"Young Zahn is worse: he is the worst rogue I ever see. He come in here
to bully me into making him my partner. He threatens to tell my piz'ness
to Crookenden and Co. I tell him, 'You do it, my poy. I schange my
account, and tell your manager why.' That young man's too smart: soon he
find himself in gaol. If my tear little Rachel marries a criminal, what
would become of her poor old father? My tear, my tarling, you make me
die with grief! But wait till the right young man comes along, then I
gif you my blessing and two thousand pounds. But I gif you not von penny
if you marry young Zahn."

The tears were now standing in Rachel's pretty eyes, and she looked the
picture of grief.

"I never do _anything_, but you blame me," she sobbed. "When I wish to
do a thing, you always say it's bad. You don't love me!" And she burst
into a flood of tears.

"Rachel! Rachel! I gafe you the gold watch; and that bill came to
thirty-three pounds. I gif you everything, and when I tell you not to
run after a bad young feller, you say I nefer loaf you. Rachel, you are
cruel; you make your father's heart bleed; you stab me here"--he pointed
with his fat forefinger to the middle of his waistcoat--"you stab me
here"--he placed his finger on his forehead. "You show no loaf, no
consideration. You make me most unhappy. You're a naughty girl!"

The old fellow was almost crying. Rachel put her arms about his neck,
and pressed his corpulent person with affection.

"Father, I'll be good. I know I'm very bad. But I love you, father. I'll
never cause you any sorrow again. I'll do everything you tell me. I
won't gad about so much; I'll stop at home more. I will, father; I
really will."

"My tear Rachel! My loafly!" The old man was holding his pretty daughter
at arm's length, and was gazing at her with parental fondness. "You are
my peautiful, tear, goot, little girl."

Again her arms were flung round his neck. Again she kissed his bristly
cheeks with her ruby-red lips. "You _are_ an old dear," she exclaimed.
"You're the kindest old governor going."

"You loaf your old father?"

"Of _course_ I do. But I _do_--I _do_ so want a small cheque. I must
have it for the house."

"You'll always loaf your father, Rachel?"

"Always." She renewed her affectionate embraces.

"You shall have a little one--not so big as when my ship comes home, not
so big as I'd like, but