THAT the leg was not cut off-that out of a very ugly job indeed, a skilful and successful cure had been effected-might have been evidenced to any one, cognizant of the accident, who had seen Steyne as, some nine weeks after the date of our last chapter, he walked down one of the handsome quiet squares, in a rather unfashionable quarter of the town-going, as in duty bound, to return thanks to those to whom he was informed he owed the extra attention and care he had met with, and by whose agency his sufferings had received the ameliorations of many a luxury and comfort.

To Mrs. Caslin he was told the debt of gratitude was due, and right willingly Philip went to acquit himself of it; and also, by the lady's desire, to show himself at the house, the cure complete.

He was shown into a vast dining-room. He sat down, for his walk had slightly wearied him his eyes

wandered over the huge pictures and extensive belongings of the solemn apartment; his thoughts occupied with his own uncertain fate-would he find a vacancy at the Docks, or should he once more try for other employment? Cary, too-he had fears for her -she had been to see him several times, and, to his sorrow, the traces of the old vice were even more and more visible.

"In the dining-room, James ?" said a voice outside. Yes, Miss."

Philip rose to his feet as the door opened, and there entered the fair cause of his accident, who, running up to him, utterly ignoring the elaborate bow with which he had prepared to greet her, seized his hand in both of hers, and looking up in his face, exclaimedOh, I am so glad you are come! I have wanted to come and see you so; but they wouldn't let me. And are you well-quite? Is the poor leg quite well, and strong-quite?" rubbing her own member so indicated very vigorously at the same time.

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Philip assured her of the fact. "Let me see you walk, though. Yes-ah!-and can you run, and jump, and all—just as well as ever, now ?” The young man reiterated the assurance, so urgently that indeed the only doubt seemed to be, whether the limb were not benefited by the accident.

"So glad so very thankful, I am," said the singular child, clasping her little hands. "Oh, I was so afraid that you'd have had it cut off; and I don't know what I should have done then. It was all my fault; and I've thought so much about it. Did it pain you very dreadfully ?"

I can pardon Philip the little sacrifice of truth con

tained in his answer; for I have known Kate, and can imagine how those large loving eyes would be looking up, in all the earnestness of the child, stroking the big hard hand the while, in her little fingers, standing by his side. I think he might have risked a heavier sin, to spare those eyes a tear.

"I pray'd it mightn't," she said; then, in a lower tone-"I guess you saved my life;" and bending her head, she pressed her lips to the hard hand, and a tear fell on it.

The long soft curls hid the little cheeks and brow, that blushed red a moment after; not for the act, but at what aunt would have said, whose footsteps just then sounded in the hall; and, ere Philip could have spoken, she entered.

"He's well, Aunty; quite well and strong!" said the impetuous girl, running forward.

"Indeed, I am extremely glad to hear it," said the lady, with a slight bend and a motion of the hand that the young man should be seated. "I am truly rejoiced that you are perfectly restored to health; and I trust this will be a salutary lesson to my niece, and impress upon her the necessity of putting more restraint upon her actions, and behaving in a manner more befitting a lady. Indeed I shall scarcely regret the occurrence, if it prove the means of confirming those lessons I so constantly labour to instil into her mind.”

The glow of childish enthusiasm had all vanished from the face of the young creature, in whose behalf the eloquent lady was so liberal with the sufferings of other people; but she seemed to listen rather with an air of long-suffering endurance than with any very hopeful sign of contrition.

ir is sadly disordered, and you look flushed,”

continued the aunt, who, despite her haughty bearing towards the dock labourer, had not disdained to bestow ten minutes on her mirror before giving audience.

"Go and let Helen dress you, while I speak to the young man," she added, to her niece.

"His name is Steyne, aunt-Philip Steyne," said Kate, almost angrily, as she went out; for she dared not disobey, though her heart was very full as she went slowly up to the dressing-room.

"I desired you should wait on me as soon as you left the hospital, on the part of my niece and myself, to express our gratitude for the service you rendered her, and, in acknowledgment, to present you with these,"laying on the table a couple of ten-pound notes; adding, as she rose, "I wish you every success in whatever you may undertake. You will, doubtless, like to rest awhile; I will order some refreshment to be brought."

She had her hand upon the bell, when Philip's words arrested her, as he stood up and took his hat from the table.

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I beg your pardon, ma'am; I did not come bere for anything of the kind; I came to thank you and the young lady for your kindness in getting me so much better attended to than most of the poor fellows would be, in such a case. I know I should else most likely have lost a limb. As to the accident, ma'am, it might have happened just as well any other way; and I should do the same to-morrow if it was to be over again I did not think about it when I did it; and I should no more think of taking money, for saving a human life, than I should of selling my flesh or my blood out at a price. I thank you, ma'am, just the same; but I shall not take it."

:

The lady, who had heard him out, simply from surprise hindering speech, had opened her lips to make some observation, when a bevy of visitors was announced, and with a brief injunction against "absurd pride," Mrs. Caslin swept away to her reception-room. I have nowhere painted my chief personage as a marvel of good sense; so you will not, perhaps, find it very inconsistent that he should so blindly quarrel with his good fortune as to deliberately turn his back upon those tempting crisp bits of paper, and quit the house of plenty-where he might fairly be supposed to have a claim-with a hungry appetite and empty pockets. But we all have our own and different estimates of the proportionate value of certain things: and young Steyne, it seems, prized the gratification of proving his pride and independence, before that haughty lady, at something over £20 of good hard cash.

De gustibus non est disputandum. There are so many shades, too, go to make up a man's mind. Largely as Phil could talk about saving a human life—if it had happened to be the old lady now that he had savedwell, the notion of the £20, you know, might not have seemed so incongruous-the touch of a warm pair of young lips, the drop of a grateful tear, have wonderful power, for such slight things.

As he walked out into the hall another carriage drove up, he stepped into a side passage. At that moment Kate ran down the stairs and into the diningroom. It was empty-the notes upon the table told a tale to her quick perception. Darting into the hall, now empty, she caught sight of Steyne in the act of quitting the house; she ran to him, and putting her hand upon his arm,-" Are you going," said she, her eyes filling with tears" Oh, I know, I know-my