bbly street, and strolled into the market-
place. He might have proceeded at once to his sister's lodgings, but he
had no wish to encounter her husband there if he could avoid it; but how
to ascertain whether he was in the town or no he could not tell. That
he was not likely to remain many days at once in the place he was pretty
sure; and yet his sister's letter implied that he had been lately with
her, and had been taking some steps towards removing the children from
their present place of abode. So he walked up and down the little town
in all directions, thinking that if Mr Vivian should be anywhere about,
and should catch sight of him, he might retire from the place for a
season, and give him an opportunity of visiting his sister unmolested.
At length, after returning to his inn and refreshing himself, he made up
his mind to call at his sister's home, trusting that he should find her
alone.

All was quiet as could be in the little street or lane down which he now
made his way. Knocking at the door of the neat but humble dwelling
where his sister lived, she herself answered the summons. "Oh! is it
you, Amos?" she cried, clasping her hands passionately together. "Oh, I
am so glad, so glad! I want to tell you all, it has been so terrible;
come in, come in." Amos entered the little parlour and looked round.
He had himself furnished it with a few extras of comfort and refinement.
"O Amos, dear, dear Amos," cried his sister, throwing her arms round
his neck and weeping bitterly, "it has been so dreadful. Oh pardon me,
pray pardon me!"

"What for, dearest Julia?" he asked.

"Why, for writing that last part of the letter. He stood over me; he
made me do it. He stood over me with a whip; yes, he struck me over and
over again--look at my neck here--he struck me till the blood came, when
I refused at first to write as he dictated. But oh! I hope no harm
came of that letter?"

"None, dear sister, none. No; the Lord took care of me and delivered
me.--But the children--what of them?"

"Oh, I don't know, I'm sure; but I rather think he doesn't mean to move
them after all."

"And where is he himself--I mean your--"

"My husband, as he calls himself," she said bitterly. "Oh, he is
anywhere and everywhere; sometimes here for a day or two, and then
absent for weeks. Indeed, he hardly dares stay for any length of time
in any one place, for fear of the police getting hold of him."

"My poor sister!" exclaimed Am