th strict injunctions to stand inside, hold
tight to the door-handle, let in the returning sisters, and then slam
the door in the face of all the world beside.

A run was now made for the Dotropy residence. We could not call it a
rush, for the three ladies were too light and elegant in form to proceed
in such a manner. They tripped it--if we may say so--on light fantastic
toe, though with something of unseemly haste. Ruth being young and
active reached the door first, and, as before, went with a rebounding
bang against it. The anxious Mrs Dotropy had been for some time on the
watch. She opened the door.

"Ruth!"

"Mamma!"

"Your daughter!" exclaimed the Miss Seawards in needless explanation, as
they pushed her in, and then, turning round, fled homeward with so much
noise that the attention of a night watchman was naturally attracted.
The sisters heard his approaching foot-falls. They put on, in sporting
language, a spurt. Just as the door was reached the two cats, becoming
suddenly brave, filled the night-air with yells as of infants in agony.
An irrepressible shriek burst from the sisters as they tripped over each
other into the passage, and the faithful Liffie slammed the door in the
face of the discomfited policeman.

It was a crucial test of friendship, and the Miss Seawards came to the
conclusion that night, before retiring to rest, that nothing on earth
would ever induce them to do it again.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

A HOPEFUL CLUB DISCOVERED.

When Captain Bream, as before mentioned, was obliged to hurry off to
London, and forsake the Miss Seawards, as well as his theological
studies, he hastened to that portion of the city where merchants and
brokers, and money-lenders, and men of the law do love to congregate.

Turning down Cheapside the captain sought for one of the many labyrinths
of narrow streets and lanes that blush unseen in that busy part of the
Great Hive.

"Only a penny, sir, _only_ a penny."

The speaker was an ill-conditioned man, and the object offered for sale
was a climbing monkey of easily deranged mechanism.

"Do you suppose," said the captain, who, being full of anxious thought
was for the moment irascible, "do you suppose that I am a baby?"

"Oh! dear no, sir. From appearances I should say you've bin weaned some
little time--only a penny, sir. A nice little gift for the missus, sir,
if you ain't got no child'n."

"Can you direct me," said the captain with a bland loo