The Unclassed

undergone any improvement. She took her place at the tea-table in silence. She and Mrs. Ogle were alone this evening; the latter's husband-he was a journeyman printer,

lence, only looking askance at the girl from time to time. When she had finished her tea and b

-night, Mrs. Ogle. You

ed till eleven mys

after twelve wh

you going t

Mrs. Ogle, I'm going to se

ly, "but I think it's only right I should have some idea where you spend your

ne to be responsibl

good for them, and what isn't. I don't think your cousin 'ud approve of you

y dressed people would have been chary of entering after nightfall, or indeed at any other time, unless compelled to do so. The girl found the object of her walk

howiness, and made a lavish display of jewellery, more or less valuable. Eight years ago she was a servan

tor with a friendly n

as you missed larst week. How's thin

d cloak, and going to warm her hands and feet at the fi

we all has our little trials a

et looking towards a bundle o

a way which made her ugly face peculiarly revolting. "Dessay it'll join i

l meant, and Harriet eviden

Dessay you could do with somethin' to take the cold orff yer chest.-Liz," she called out t

eature, with bent shoulders, and head seeming to grow straight out of its chest; thick, grizzled hair hiding almost every vestige of feature, with the exception of one dreadful red eye, its fellow being dead and sightless. He had laid on the cou

oppers, so you know. Next time I catch you tryin' to ring the changes, I'll have y

jumbled words, not easy to ca

l, p'r'aps you'll wait till you can prove it. I wan

is counter, so there you've the straight tip. Now

any accusio

se!-What's he

six," answer

xpence,

," muttered the creature.

ge for it. Now, once

ng back a horrible glare

re-entered

id, Sarah," Harriet said, when sh

ise. "Why, have you fallen out with your cousi

said I might be. Any way it won't be just

business; 'tain't all sugar an' lemon, an' sittin' drinkin' twos o' whisky till further orders. You want a quiet, easy business, you do, an' you've got it. If you keep worri

s o' chances," said

l all come right. We're all born, but

elf to be persuaded

omnibus. Very shortly she was set down close by Walcot Square. She walked about till, with some difficulty in the darkness, she had discovered the number at which Julian had told her his friend lived. The house found, she began to pace up and down on the opposite pavement, always keeping her eyes fixed on the same door. She was soon shivering in the cold night

is bedroom, the world shut out, his thoughts in long

laid open the first volume at the first page, propping it on a couple of meaner books, and, after glancing through the short Preface, began to read with a mind as devoutly disposed as that of any pious believer poring upon his Bible. "In the second century of the Christian AEra, the empire of Rome comprehended the fairest part of the earth, and the

old Claudian, and the reading of the poet had settled him to a task which he had before that doubtfully sought. He wanted to write either a poem or a drama on some subject taken from the "Decline and Fall," and now, with Claudian's help, he fixed upon Stilicho for his hero.

and then read it to his friend. It was now only the middle of the week, and though he had decided previously to wait till his visit to Walcot Square

d he knew how vain it would be to try and make her understand his state of mind. Still, he went to see her as usual, and sat for an hour in Mrs. Ogle's parlour. At times, throughout the week, he ha

rriet carelessly. "I can't

y at home th

all the

you go to, when you are

ple.-I suppose you've been spending most

very busy. I've just finished some work

from speaking of it, though he h

icious look which came into her grey eyes whene

g. I've writ

Will it b

isn't meant

he good o

e. I shall perhaps tr

u get mon

ll probability I shall not be

repeated Harriet, still suspic

me pleasure,

take his leave. Waymark received him wit

ought in Gibbon. It will be desperately modern, and possibly not altogether in accordance with the views of the Lord Chamberlain. What's th

up from his easy-chair, took a step forward, and held out his hand. His face shone with the frankest enthusiasm. He could not e

to speak in this way,

, we will have this off to a publisher's fort

that they hardly bea

e effec

he founding of Rome; her dissolution is as grand a subject. It would mean years of preparatio

the heat of youth, or the va

of the Muses, and harmonies as from Apollo's lyre throbbed in the hearts of the two friends. The future was their inexhaustible subject, t