er aunt to the cab like one in some horrible dream. The
fog, the crowds, the noises, the strangeness of everything! With a chill
at her warm young heart she took her seat in the cab, and was driven
swiftly through the streets. The fog was lifting slightly; she could see
the houses and buildings stretching as far as eyes could follow them;
houses everywhere, people everywhere; men, women, and children hurrying
along the pavements; cabs and carts rolling unceasingly.

[Sidenote: "Is there a Fair To-day?"]

"Is there a fair to-day?" she asked her aunt, who was sitting opposite
with closed eyes.

"Fair? Simpleton! it's this way every day, only worse, because this is
early morning, and there's only a few about yet;" and Mrs. Murphy's eyes
closed again.

The cab rattled along, the streets became narrow and unsavoury, but Eily
knew no difference; it was all grand to her unsophisticated eyes; the
little shops, with lights that flared dismally in their untidy windows,
caused her much excitement and speculation.

At last the cab drew up, and her aunt awoke from her nap in a bad
temper.

"Get my things together, quick, and don't dawdle; we're at home now, and
you will have to set about your work!"

Eily gathered together bags and boxes and set them down upon the
pavement, while her aunt haggled with the driver in a spirited manner;
the man went off, grumbling at the meanness of a "couple o' Hirishers,"
but Eily, not understanding the English manner of using the aspirate,
was blissfully unconscious of his meaning.

The house door opened, and an elderly man, looking cowed and humble,
shuffled out to meet them.

"We've come at last!" cried out her aunt in a loud voice; "it's the last
time I'll take the trouble to visit my folks! What the better am I for
all the money I've spent on the trip? Better, indeed! A good deal worse
_I_ should say! Take in the box, William! what are you stopping for?"
she demanded angrily.

"Oh, nothing, nothing, my dear! I'll take the box in at once,
certainly!" The old man hurried to do his wife's bidding, and entered
the squalid house. Eily followed with her parcels, and stood in doubt as
to what her next proceedings should be, while her aunt bustled away
somewhere, on food intent.

The old man, having obediently deposited the box in the region of
upstairs, shuffled down again, and approached Eily gently. "Are you her
niece, my poor girl?" he whispered, with a backward glance in the
directio