y.

"Surely you know! Because the Whigs have brought in a king that the
people do not like. There, don't talk about it any more now. I want to
sit still and think."

Frank respected his companion's silence, and thankful at having escaped
from the heat and pressure of the crowd, he sat gazing at the moving
panorama on either side, enjoying the novelty of his position.

His musings upon what he saw were interrupted by his companion, who
repeated his former words suddenly in a low, thoughtful voice, but one
full of annoyance, as if the words were rankling in his memory.

"He took me for a Whig."

Then, catching sight of his companion's eyes watching him wonderingly:

"What say?" he cried. "Did you speak?"

"No; you did."

"No, I said nothing."

Frank smiled.

"Yes, you said again that the man in the crowd took you for a Whig."

"Did I? Well, I was thinking aloud then."

"Where to, sir?" asked the waterman, as he sent the boat gliding along
past the gardens of the Temple, "London Bridge?"

"No; Blackfriars."

A few minutes later they landed at the stairs, and, apparently quite at
home in the place, Andrew led his companion in and out among the
gloomy-looking streets and lanes of the old Alsatian district, and out
into the continuation of what might very well be called High Street,
London.

"Here we are," he said, as he directed their steps toward one of the
narrow courts which ran north from the main thoroughfare; but upon
reaching the end, where a knot of excitable-looking men were talking
loudly upon some subject which evidently interested them deeply, one of
the loudest speakers suddenly ceased his harangue and directed the
attention of his companions to the two lads. The result was that all
faced round and stared at them offensively, bringing the colour into
Andrew's cheeks and making Frank feel uncomfortable.

"Let's go straight on," said the former; and drawing himself up, he
walked straight toward the group, which extended right across the rough
pavement and into the road, so that any one who wanted to pass along
would be compelled to make a circuit by stepping down first into the
dirty gutter.

"Keep close to me; don't give way," whispered Andrew; and he kept on
right in the face of the staring little crowd, till he was brought to a
standstill, not a man offering to budge.

"Will you allow us to pass?" said Andrew haughtily.

"Plenty o' room in the road," shouted the man who had been s