Fan

otwithstanding the late supper, and not in the least disturbed by the scornful words flung at her by the housemaid when she

don't sit down on a bench, or you will be sure to have someone speak to you. According to the last census, or Registrar-General's report, or whatever it is, there are twenty thousand young gentlemen loafers in London, who spend their whol

Mary. But it doesn't mat

thout it, and don't mind spending a little money now and then, and giving

plush purse, then some silver and coppe

must not change, but keep it in case you sh

ng with gold and brilliant colours in the sun like some fairy edifice. Running up the steps she walked round and round the sculptured base of the monument, studying the marble faces and reading the names, and above all admiring the figures there-blind old Homer playing on his harp, with Dante, Shakespeare, Milton, and all the immortal sons of song, grouped about him listening. But nothing to her mind equalled the great group of statuary representing Asia at one of the four corners, with that colossal calm-faced woman seated on an elephant in the centre. What a great majestic face, and yet how placid and sweet it looked, rem

ointing to Fan, "I'se like

oung lady will kiss you if you a

with pleasure, and quickly stooping she

at's your name?

e got your kiss and that ought to satisfy you";

tranger, and treated like an equal! And in the days that were not so long ago with what sad desire in her eyes had she looked at smiling beauti

s close by which amused her still more. Some poor ragged children-three boys and a girl-were engaged in making a great heap of the old dead fallen leaves, gathering them in armfuls and bringing them to one spot. By-and-by the little girl came up with a fresh load, and as she stooped to put it on the pile, the boys, who had all gathered round, pushed her over and cover

d taking out a penny she offered it to the little girl. Instantly the crying ceased, the child clutched the penny in her dirty little fist, then stare

Gardens, however, one little incident occurred to interfere with her pleasure. Close to the Broad Walk she suddenly encountered Captain Horton walking with a companion in the opposite direction. There was no time to tu

s friend ask, as she hurried away a littl

bout this casual encounter in the Gardens

n, Mary, so as not to mee

ut after a while added, "He couldn't well have done less than notice you when he met you, and I do not think you need be afraid of anything. It is not likely that he would address you. He pu

while her moody fits and bursts of temper were more frequent than usual. Then, one Wednesday evening, when Fan assisted her in dressing to

for you on a Wednesday evening, sittin

e door and listen to the music

s Starbrow. "Who do you thi

on," she answ

of that man. He offended me so much that day that I made up my mind never to speak to him again. But he is very sorry; besides, he looked on you as little more than a child, and really meant it only for a joke. And so I have half forgiven him, and shall let him

t age as scarcely more than children, and think it no harm to kiss them. He's a thoughtless fellow, and doesn't always do what is right, but he c

impression, turned round and said, "Now, my solemn-faced girl, why are you so silent? Are you g

st, Mary," she said, in a distressed voice. "Oh, please don'

nd kissed her; and this little display of confidence and affection

so much on was weakness where he was concerned, she was dissatisfied in mind and angry with herself for making these concessions. She really believed in the love he professed for her, and did not think much the worse of him for being a man without income or occupation, and a gambler to boot; but she feared that a marriage with him would only make her miserable, and between her love for him, which could not be concealed, and the fear that he would eventually win her consent to be his wife, her mind was in a constant state of anxiety and restle

y met him, in the house or when out walking, he always had that curious smile on his lips, and studied

ecember, Miss Starbrow began t

You couldn't make your living by simply looking pretty; you must be useful as well as ornamental; and I have taught you nothing-teaching is not in my line. It would be a thousand pities if you were ever to sink down to the servant-girl level: we must think of something better than that. A young lady generally aspires to be a governess. But then she must know everything-music, drawing, French, German, Latin, mathematics, algebra; all that she must have at her finger-ends, and be able to gabble political economy, science, and metaphysics to boot. All that is bey

o and understood this half-serious mocking style

ult for you to get a place of that kind, as your appearance is so much in your favour. I know that your ambition is not a very soaring one, and a few months ago you would not have ventured to dream of ever being a young lady in a shop like Jay's or Peter Robinson's. Yet for such a place you would not have to study for years and pass a stiff examination, as a poor girl is obliged to do before she can make her living by sitting behind a counter selling penny postage-stamps. Homely girls can succeed there: f

earn that very much

ace in Regent Street, where for a moderate premium they do really succeed in teaching girls

maintained by the teachers in the establishment she was in that by means of their system even a stupid girl could be taught the mystery of dressmaking in a little while. And Fan was not stupid, although she had an extremely modest opinion of her own abilities, and was not regarded by others as remarkably intelligent; but she was diligent and painstaking, and above ever

till more delightful art. But at the end of that month Fan unhappily, and from no fault of her own, fell into serious disgrace. She had gone to the Exhibition Road with a sample of her work on the morning of a bright windy day which promised to be dry; a little later Miss Starbrow also w

wet. A young gentleman came with her, and

leman-are you

doubted. "He was with her on the steps when I opened the door, and shook han

Fan, would not have dared to invent a story of this kind, and resolved to s

r her head by an attentive young stranger. He kept at her side all the way across the Gardens to Dawson Place, and Fan felt grateful for his kindness; she conversed with him during the walk, and at the door she had not refused to shake hands when he offered his. In ordi

not too kindly at her, and imagined that poor Fan wore a look of guilt on her face

ady, "and if she says nothing, I shall conclude that she ha

mistress was even less gracious to her than she had been, and thought it best to

ress as was her custom. Miss Starbrow was also dressed in readiness to go out

, Mary?" said Fan,

ned coldly, and then seemed wait

o now?"

and stay at home to-day." Presently she added, "You are learning a l

, not knowing

the maid and told her to remove Fan's bed and to

d sat down in the cold back room to do some work. After a while she heard a great noise as of furni

ith my things?" excla

out at last. And quite time, too! Embroidery! That's what you're going to wear perhaps when you're back in the slums you came from! I thought it wouldn't last!" And Rosie, banging the things about, pounding the mattress with clen

ture even exceeding that of Fan, who was spending the long hours alone in that big, cold, fireless room, grieving

very still, and after standing a few moments on the landing, anxious not to rouse the maid and draw a fresh volley of abuse on herself, she went softly down the stairs, and opened the drawing-room door. For a moment or two she stood motionless, a

ain stood up, but the intruder had seen a

Rosie, grown suddenly pale

Captain; "but it was all through your inferna

ke a man. Perhaps you're in love with th

yours too, for a fool. If any tro

t care. There'll be troubl

say that she wil

everything to Miss Starbrow, and she hates me and hates yo

about the

bad for you as

can get another

fe, if you like that. You know very well that I have prom

lf. Don't think I want to marry you. Not me! Keep your

her. "It's no use quarrelling," he said. "If anything can be done to get out of this infernal scrape it will only be by our acting together.

t hold he

it is you; but then we've both of us got to do the best we can for ourselves. I shall love you just the same after I am married, and if you still should like me, wh

r way then. Not to-day, and perhaps not to-morrow; and the day after I think Miss Starbrow's goin

nterested in it; but when it was at last over, and the Captain took his departure, Rosie did not bounce away as usual with tumbled hair and merr