isters to the wounded orb so soothing a lotion of pity and ad- miration that Poole growls out quite mildly—" Nonsense, blarney —by-the-by, I did not say this morning that you should not have the rosewood chiffonier."
"No, you said you could not afford it, duck; and when Pa says he can't afford it, Pa m.ust be the judge—must not he, Johnny dear?"
"But, perhaps I can afford it. Yes, you may have it; yes, I say, you shall have it. Don't forget to leave that card on Peck- ham—he's a moneyed man. There's a ring at the bell, who is in? Run and see."
Mrs. Poole obeyed with great activity, considering her inter- esting condition. She came back in half a minute.
"Oh, my Adolphus! oh, my Samuel! it is that dreadful-look- ing man who was here the other evening—staid with you so long. I don't like his looks at all. Pray, don't be at home."
"I must," said Poole, turning a shade paler, if that were possible. " Stop—don't let that girl go to the door, and you leave me." He snatched his hat and gloves, and putting aside the parlor maid, who had emerged from the shades below in order to answer the ' ring,' walked hastily down the small garden.
Jasper Losely was stationed at the little gate. Jasper was no longer in rags, but he was coarsely clad—clad as if he had re- signed all pretence to please a lady's eye, or to impose upon a West-End tradesman—a check shirt—a rough pea-jacket, his hands buried in its pockets.
Poole started with a well-simulated surprise. " What, you! I am just going to my office—in a great hurry at present."
"Hurry or not, I must and will speak to you," said Jasper, doggedly.
"What now? then, step in;—only remember I can't give you more than five minutes."
The rude visitor followed Poole into the back parlor, and closed the door after him.
Leaning his arms over a chair, his hat still on his head, Losely fixed his fierce eyes on his'old friend, and said in a low, set, de- termined voice—" Now, mark me, Dolly Poole, if you think to shirk my business, or throw me over, you'll find yourself in Queer Street. Have you called on Guy Darrell, and put my case to him, or have you not?"
"I met Mr. Darrell only last night, at a very genteel party. (Poole deemed it prudent not to say by whom that genteel party was given, for it will be remembered that Poole had been Jas- per's confidant in that adventurer's former designs upon Mrs.
