Down upon one knee the man went, and taking up the foot that seemed quivering to spurn him, incased it in the rubber—set it deferentially on the floor, planted the other on his knee, and completed his task with evident pride. There was a general demand for cloaks, shawls, and hoods after this, and the party broke up. “My dear, how much?” questioned Mr. Brown with insinuating meekness, as he and his wife went down the steps together. “Don’t ask me. It’s enough to aggravate a saint. Private charities, indeed, just sending the money back to the Evil One where it came from—then all these riff-raff societies crowding in. The whole thing is just contemptible.” “Exactly, my love,” replied Mr. Brown, “exactly.” CHAPTER XIV. THE SAINT AND THE SINNER. “Now,” whispered the girl Ellen, breathless with terror lest Mrs. Judson should come into the room and find a stranger there; “get on your things, dear, we can steal down the servants’ staircase and no one the wiser. You must come again very soon, remember.” Jane Kelly consented to put on her bonnet and shawl, but she did it with a cool deliberation which drove her companion wild. “_Do_ make haste!” she entreated, frightened out of all patience, “I hear her coming.” “Well, then, it is of no use; she is sure to be upon us. Never fear, I’ll take all the blame.” Jane stepped into the hall as she said this, and stood directly in the light as Mrs. Judson came up the stairs with her head erect and her dress held up a little, that its length might not impede her progress. But for the bonnet and shawl, she might not have noticed Jane; as it was, she stopped suddenly and cast a sharp glance at Ellen. “Who is this? Who authorized you to bring company up here?” she said, in a cold, calm tone that made the girl shiver. “No one authorized her, madam,” said Jane, with an air of profound humility. “I come on business, special business with Mrs. Judson, the lady of the house.” “With me!” “If you are Mrs. Judson, and I suppose you are, it being difficult, not to say impossible, to find two such splendid—I beg pardon, ma’am, two such ladies in the world.” Mrs. Judson’s face became a shade less haughty, and she said with less anger in her voice,— “Still there must be a mistake. I never saw you before.” “True enough, lady; but I think you will be glad to see me now. I’ve got something for you from that poor young creature that you’ve been trying to hear about.”