g penetrated into the lion's den, did not mean to be
dismissed so easily.

'Please, sir,' he began, hurriedly, 'I want to know whether you will
give my mother a little longer to pay her rent. We have had a very hard
time. Mr. Tucker is going to turn us out.'

'You must go and see Mr. Tucker about that,' answered the old man,
indifferently. 'I leave all such matters to him; or, stay,' he added, 'I
am expecting Mr. Harold to-night. You can come in and see him about it
next week if you like.'

Then John remembered that he had heard that on the anniversary of his
son's departure the old man always expected him to return, and he
understood why he had been shown in so hurriedly.

'But, please, sir,' he pleaded, 'won't you write me a line for Mr.
Tucker, in case Mr. Harold missed the train or anything?'

The old man put up his hands feebly. 'Take him away, Williams,' he said,
querulously.' I can't be worried, or I shall be too tired to speak to
Mr. Harold when he comes. Do whatever you think Mr. Harold would like.'

John followed the butler out of the room, and half an hour later he went
down the steps triumphantly. In his pocket was a paper which the butler
had written out and persuaded the Squire to sign, stating that Mrs.
Green was on no account to be turned out of her cottage without Mr.
Harold's express orders. He found the tramp waiting for him, and told
his story joyfully, declining to accept the proffered shilling in
return.

The tramp listened attentively, and drew himself together at the end. 'I
think I will risk it,' he said, huskily. Then he turned to John: 'Look
here, young man, you will find it to your advantage to say nothing about
to-night, whatever news you may hear in the village to-morrow. See?'

'You aren't going to hurt the Squire?' asked John, anxiously.

'I hope not, but you will probably understand to-morrow,' and the shabby
figure strode away up the drive.

* * * * *

The next day the villagers were electrified by the news that Mr. Harold
had returned at last.

That is many years ago now, and John Green, the head-gardener at the
Manor-house, sometimes wonders, as he watches the care with which the
present Squire selects an orchid for his button-hole, whether the tramp
who spoke to him on that snowy December night was not the figure of a
dream.

IN HARVARD MUSEUM.

The American University of Harvard contains in its Museum one of the
greatest artis