Rogues and Vagabonds

ut as every house in it is inhabited to the utmost extent of its inhabitable capa

rom infancy in close contact with it, and would feel uncomfortable without it. As to vice and misery, they have seen so much of them that any terror such things might once have possessed has long since worn off. They

ade in cheap crockery, stale vegetables, doubtful meat, and still more doubtful fish, w

ooms, where sallow-faced women sit, dishevelled and ragged, amid old boots and shoes,

d assortment of 'goods' in which the proprietor deals, and

the uppers, but thickly coated with a blacking which is rather

s all mystery. How the second, third, and fourth floors get their living, what they are, and what they do, it would be a difficult matter to explain. Most of them evidently

he gutter, children under the wheels of hansom cabs, up the lamp-posts, hanging over the window-sills, crowding the staircases, lying in the areas, rolling with

ith disease. Sometimes they get lost, every now and then one or two will be run over by a cab or a brewer's dray, and sometimes an

have no regular meal-times. They get a slice of bread-and-butter, occasionally a slice

er hour it may suit father and mother to return. It is considered safer to leave them outside than in.

the extraordinary appearance of her face. It was quite clean. Her hair was neatly brushed, and over her plain little brown merino frock she actually wore a white pinafore. Not only would a stranger be struck with amazement at the

o her next-door neighbour, Mrs. Moss. 'Larst night she came for a pen'orth o' fried fi

she can't be quite right 'ere.' And Mrs. Moss put a v

across the road to the doorway where sat the unconscious object of her criticism. 'It's m

e known, for at this moment the attention of both ladies was att

the street, suddenly leaped up and made a joyful dash a

ckett's pretty face lit up with pleasure the moment she caught sight of him. She wa

ad you 've come. Grandfath

u think he's w

sh of shame came upon her cheeks and she held her hea

notice the pained tone in whic

s a good sign, not a bad one. People are

cross; but, Dr. Birnie, will you

r timidly, as though she w

your doll got the measles, or d

d by the notion; but her face resumed

t I want you to ask grandfather no

hasis, that the doctor stopped on the threshold of the house,

laited hair, 'what a shame it is!' Then, without answering Gertie Heck

The said head was covered with surgical bandages, and a considerable portion of the face below was 'discoloured and bruised. That Mr. Heckett was in pain was evident, for every time he moved-

ying about on the floor, in various attitudes of repose, were two toy terriers, a fox-hound, and a fierce and exceptionally ugly bull-dog. A pretty King Charles spaniel, with a litter of puppies, occupied an empty box in one of the corners, and scattered about the room in picturesque confusion were r

eek fawn coat shone like velvet, and spoke of some one's constant care and attention. There was something of contempt for the other inhabitants of the room in the dog's look at times. When the other dogs barked, he would glare towards them with a lazy, sneering expression,

slunk back into the corner of the room, with his eyes ste

tt?' said Dr. Birnie, seizing a rabbit-hutch by the bedsi

don't like you; he's a very good judge

he knows your friend

es

o growl at me. I'm o

long as it suits yer

; have it your own

an't slee

ook at i

n's, Birnie removed the bandage

ing wound, he put back the strappings and

in a week. By Jove! I thought it was all up with you that night you

od bit longer yet. Josh Heckett isn't going

t born to die t

a look of such intense rage that it convulsed his

fist under the counterpane. 'If I come to a bad end th

ed, and turned t

s Gertie

do without her. She's a fust-class nuss, and she attends the

why do you

m a moment as if he

her next. There ain't nothin' in swearing at an

at Gertie. Why, he swore at everything-at the dogs, at the guinea-pigs, at

the enormity of the objection. 'This here's a free coun

ll I ask you. The girl's a good li

pulled hims

y gal's got on pretty well without your assistance up to now, and we're wery much obliged, but "d

r mind; you're always glad enough to

s very glad of m

row darkened a

a good many of us-a time

le to forget too. You've got on in the world, and rolls yo

you do with it. Why do you keep on this wretched den, and these wretche

this place. If I hadn't a crib like this, how could I live? It isn't so respectable as the old crib you and Egert

thrust his hands in his pockets, and walked up and down the room, treading on the

what might have happened if

the only side of his face

him as done it. What did he bolt to America for directly afterwards? Only he hadn't no motive, and the other had, and I allus looks at motives. Besides, anyway, it 'ud be wus for you, now E

ier, as he lay with his grey hair

ckett!' he said presently with a

here drum for the benefit o' my 'elth? Perhaps you thinks as I lends money to the Emperor O' Rooshia at five per cent., and only goes out after dark, f

' said the doctor,

rse you're poor. Why, you wouldn't worry

ourse, I

e bandage that Heckett had moved in his excitement; 'lie still and get well;

over the bulldog, and made a bolt for th

child,' he said. 'He'll be ab

s way into New Oxford Street. Then he turned up past the Museum, and into Russell Square. Leaving the square, and turning into

ooke

nised the highly polished face of Mr.

rning, M

-tails, for Birnie had walked on rapidly, 'Doctor, one moment. I wish you'd com

Egerton's h

's seen his ghost. Just come in and see her, sir,

alked back w

said; 'that's all. When did s

est. Old and faithful servant, sir-very much attached. He's left her fiv

and then he silently followed hi

mory went back to a time when he, Oliver Birnie, and this very Gurth Egerton were com

anker's, and Gurth-well, Gurth had been drowned in the Bo