Broter

    MAGGIE o go to toms lodgings in to dinner, else s   lodging ire strangers. Our friend Bob Jakin acit consent, taken not only a  eig also one of ter-side, ing out ts in ances, ter for terests of all parties, sanitary considerations apart, t tom? It cist finds conveniently standing near a colossal statue to sions. tiny sied and looked up at Maggie  t tered smilingly, made urn round ement and say,

    `Eell Bob! - its Miss Maggie! Come in, Miss, for goodness do, s on, opening a side door, and endeavouring to flatten  to make tmost space for tor.

    Sad recollections cro poor tom o call by t name s. But everyt strange to  t on   likely to disperse tood  speaking.

    `If you please to take tting do garment and  to , as s Maggie.

    `Bob is at  tch doll.

    `Yes, Miss; but I t be washing and dressing himself - Ill go and see, said Mrs Jakin, disappearing.

    But sly came back tle eetfully.

    `ting out o  to pay your , and I s, if s me. But I o come today, to speak to my brother.

    `om is:  men s - youll see t.

    `ell, Bob, Im sure ed to you, wever , walking of you.

    `Es akin it. But I t  over- s ter nor a tilted bottle I arnt - I cant stop mysen  does me good to see you.  do you say noo  it all come true as I said? t many sorts ogoods as I cant over-praise ongue to t.

    Mrs Bobs small nose seemed to be follourning up reverentially to so smile and curtsy, and say, `Id looked forrard like aenyto seein you, Miss, for my ongues been runnin on you like as if - in on me.

    `ell, er taters, else Mr tom ull o  for em.

    `I o say,  like your marrying.

    `Eo t tle un sends not to see ly, or else to t full-gro about Mr tom, Miss, said Bob, speaking lois off carrying my pack an am at a loose end - Ive got more brains nor I knoo do o busy myself  s me as Mr tom ull sit by tin  t.  livelier noice of s lookin into tc .

    ` business, said Maggie.

    `Ay, said Bob, speaking lo do you ts notom is, but Im a cute c to last Cmas, as Id found out a soft place in   a little black spaniel - a rare bit o breed - as o get. But since ts come over  eeted to tell you, Miss, cause I t you mig out of , no go into company enough.

    `Im afraid I tle po otally neo  tom could roubles. Poor fellooo! But it  of t notitude. But Bob and already said, `om, and ter door was opening.

    `time to spare, tom, said Maggie, as soon as Bob  t tell you at once , else I saking your dinner.

    tom stood  ted opposite t. iced t sremulous, and iment of t so speak about. timent made  is it?

    tone roused a spirit of resistance in Maggie and s  in quite a different form from termined on. S and looking straig tom, said,

    `I  you to absolve me from my promise about P to see  telling you. I am come to tell you t I wiso see him.

    `Very om, still more coldly.

    But Maggie  c manner, before sed and felt tion from her.

    `Not for myself, dear tom. Dont be angry. I s , only t Po come - ed o come told  see  telling you. I s between us again.

    tom looked ating rongly for a little o ically--

    `You kno subject, Maggie. ting anyt bound to use tmost poo prevent you from disgracing  no leave you to your o - you told me so after my fat c give up me.

    `I dont om - at least as t it o misery. But I so anotuation, and I so be friends .

    ty of toms face relaxed a little.

    `I s mind your seeing  my uncles - I dont  you to make a fuss on t. But I o do anything.

    t o tremble.

    `, tom? It is very  done and borne evert my o you - w been a han yours.

    So be cears  subdued en attic. t at t it could only sself in toms fas ly on one of a kind pedagogue,

    `Noen to me, Maggie: Ill tell you remes - you  and self-command; and yet you t, and  submit to be guided. You kno ake a situation. My aunt Pullet o give you a good  ably amongst your relations until I could  is o be a lady, and I il you  your ideas and mine never accord, and you  give  you migo see t a brot into tter  kind - but my kindness can only be directed by o be good for you.

    `Yes - I knoom, said Maggie, still  trying to control ears. `I kno deal for me - I knoeful to you. But, indeed, you cant quite judge for me - our natures our very different. You dont kno me from hey do you.

    `Yes, I do kno too  feel about all t affects our family and your oy as a young  addresses from P  disgusting to me in every ot to my sisters name being associated for a moment  of a young man  of us all, and  you, I s quite certain t nessed just before my fat I dont feel certain of it ain about anyt one time you take pleasure in a sort of perverse self-denial, and at anot resolution to resist a t you knoo be wrong.

    terrible cutting trutoms  rutive, unsympatic minds. Maggie al of toms: sed in t: it seemed as if o sic voice predicting ure fallings - and yet, all turn: s , t al needs y t made o him.

    S ansly -  oo full, and s do rying to make tom feel t so ed by to t scene bet painful, solemn memory surmounted te grievance. No! S tom must not accuse . S  gaze, and said,

    `I cant make you tter of me, tom, by anyt I am not so s out from all your feelings as you believe me to be. I see as  from our position o P on ot  o entertain telling you trut to disbelieve me: I  my o you, and you ected me in a false only not encourage, I sercourse ing t of quiet friendsant kind. You may t I am unable to keep my resolutions - but at least you oug to treat me  empt on ts t I  committed yet.

    `ell, Maggie, said tom, softening under t  to overstrain matters. I t  for you to see Po come to t you say - at least you believe it yourself, I knoo you as you  me.

    ttle tremor in toms voice as tered t ion came back  toget of conciliation. Soms shoulder.

    `Dear tom - I knoo be good. I knoo bear, and  deal. I so be a comfort to you - not to vex you. You dont togety, now, do you?

    tom smiled at t to see he frown.

    `No, Maggie.

    `I may turn out better t.

    `I hope you will.

    `And may I come some day and make tea for you, and see tremely small wife of Bobs again?

    `Yes, but trot aime to spare, said tom, looking at ch.

    `Not to give me a kiss?

    tom bent to kiss hen said,

    `t a great deal to to-day. Im going to ation ernoon.

    `Youll come to aunt Gleggs tomorroo dine early, t o tea. You must come: Lucy told me to say so.

    `O Pooy else to do, said tom, pulling ly and bringing dohe small bell-rope.

    `Im frigreat; o t very far eitoucter myself  a feantial or distinguis an early stage of the world and were cherishing very large hopes in very small lodgings.