A Girl of the People

, as she hoped, every one had dispersed. As she was quietly leaving the wings she was met, much to her annoyance, by the man

und, two pounds? I'll give them to you-yes, gladly; and I'll engage that you come here every night at a fair salary

as wanted it, but it ain't for you. Good-night, sir. I'm sorry as you think so little of the people what come here. They have hard lives, and they want their bit of pleasure, and you shouldn't take their money, wh

s late now, nearly eleven o'clock, and the public-houses would be closed in about a quarter of an hour. A miserable old dame stood shivering by on

t, and may the Virgin bl

white and starved you look! Here's tw

e old dame's hand, and hurried q

ot sent her only son to an untimely grave? Oh, yes-none knew better than mother Flannigan what gin meant-what cursing and what tears, and what misery it had caused; and yet the girl with the white face and the great dark earnest wistful eyes had given her twopence to buy it, and told her to get warm and comforted. Oh, yes, gin was bad, but it w

ter's pure, highly-wrought face arose the picture of another-of a very suffering, thirsty little grandchild, who lay waiting for her on a bed of straw at home.

cutely-a tumult of mingled feelings possessed her; she was unsatisfied, and longing for she knew not what. A weaker woman in such a mood would have relieved her overcharged brain with a flood of tears. Instead of crying, Hester sang. For a woman with no religion, and no belief in religion, the queerest words arose to her lips

or him-patiently for him; and he will g

t the door, and Hest

And Will Scarlet st

ght with that voice of yourn. I didn't rightl

or air that take my fancy. But what are you doing in my room, Will Scarlet?

of a yarn to spin on that head. May I si

ew. I expect I were a bit lonely at the thought of your being so far away, cousi

nt, more particularly so as on his usually careless and almost

ould do better than to give herself to me. I has set my heart on her for years, and I thought it would be a kind of a help to her ef she had my name to hold on by, even if

and what d

knee, and was gazing inten

r Bet-she have sperrit of her own, and life have never gone easy with her. She seemed to thi

of cloak. I ha' used it myself, but Bet overdoes it. Ef ev

shining at the

you, Hett

ked at him

now her own mind. Ef she refused you, lad, why didn't you join the crew of the 'Good Queen Anne'? It ain't best

t, Hester. I haven't

and begged to buy his place in the ship; how Will was firm in his refusal until De

eep, and he's cruel. Ef you had seen how he treated the cabin boy when we was mates together in the `Betsy Prig' you wouldn't like the feel of knowi

said Hester. "And so you

soon find another. Liverpool's a bit a fres

id he give

otes. I have them in my pocket. S

can't help yourself. This is a bad part of town for a lad to have a bit of money in

"I think I have sold my

to pour the boiling water into her little cracke

e Dent come by so much money? Ef there is a ne'er-do-well it's D

e seaman, whatever else he ain't. He'd a bit of gold or two in his pocket, and some silver besid

afore you need. I suppose you'll be looking out for anot

ester. I mean to wed

l, if the girl has

ll give it to me; and she shall love me, yes, as well-as well as I love her. Why, Hetty, that fellow Dent said that her father