“Certainly. Nothing could be more correct,” answered Ward, thrusting his foot into an embroidered slipper trodden down at the heel, which had dropped to the floor; “delighted that you remember it.” “Mr. Ward, we are two helpless creatures—my grandchild and myself; one from age, the other because of her youth. A more helpless family, in fact, does not exist. We have nothing in the wide world but our good name, and the work of our hands to live on. Unhappily! most unhappily! my granddaughter, Anna, is so pretty that men turn to look at her in the street; and even ladies think much of her on that account.” “They are deuced jealous of her, I can tell you that,” burst forth young Ward, puffing away at his segar, which was half extinguished. “And no wonder; she cuts into them all hollow. Of course, men turn to look at her in the street; they don’t see a figure and face like that often, I can tell you. Then her instep, one sees it now and then coming up stairs, you know, when her dress is looped up—and it’s Spanish, absolutely Spanish, I can tell you. My dear madam, you have got a treasure of beauty in that girl—you have, indeed; I give you my honor upon it.” “I have come,” said the old lady, ignoring this speech, though a flush of red came across her withered cheek, and the hands moved restlessly in her lap, “I have come to tell you how unprotected we are, and how hard it is for us to get a living. I have come to ask a great favor of you.” “What! want money? All right. I thought it would come to that! How much? I’ll stand a pretty heavy pull; hang me, if I wont. Ward flouted his slipper on the floor, and, drawing a porte-monnaie from one of his pockets, took out a roll of treasury-notes. This time the color in the old woman’s face burned into scarlet. “I did not mean that, young man—I did not mean that. The favor I want is more important to us than all the money you possess.” Ward put the roll of bills slowly back into his porte-monnaie, and closed it with a loud snap. “Not want money? Then in the name of Jupiter! what is it you are after?” “I wish you to give up this room and leave the house. This is no place for a rich man like you. It is injuring us cruelly—my granddaughter most of all.” Ward fell back upon the bed and laughed aloud. “This is splendid!” he cried. “Give up my room! Why, you precious old thing, I like the room—it’s a capital place to hide away in. Besides, I am one of the fellows who think your granddaughter handsome. No harm in that, I hope. Like to see her going up and down stairs; steps like a fairy; lifts her head like a princess. Smoke at ease here; admire beauty at my leisure. Why should you wish to break up these little innocent enjoyments? It is inhuman—I would not have thought it of you.” “Your presence under the same roof with my girl is sure to injure her. People will not know that we cannot prevent it.”