resting generally above his eyebrows. His reputation extended far beyond the immediate East in which his shop was situated. In the course of his career it had been his good-fortune to light upon rare books in the odd lots he had picked up at auction, and book-hunters from afar would come to look over his stock of treasures. On the day of his introduction to the reader he had been much exercised. There was the letter from his brother, to which he had replied in terms with which we are familiar; it had taken his thoughts to the past, and old memories had troubled his mind; domestic and business worries were also troubling him. The charwoman he had employed for years, and who was now up-stairs making a noise which annoyed him, had, during the last few weeks, generally made her appearance in a state of inebriation. He had expostulated with her upon this new and evil departure, but his remonstrances had not effected an improvement, and now, as he sat musing and sorting his books, a sudden crash in the room above caused him to start to his feet with an angry exclamation. He calmed himself instantly, having a great power of self-control, and, going to the staircase, called out: "What is the matter, Mrs. Chizlet?" "Only the wash'and basin, sir," replied a voice from above. "Oh," he said. "And the jug, sir." "Oh." "And the soap-dish, sir." "Oh." Then there was a pause and an ominous stillness. "Have you broken anything else?" he asked. "I didn't break 'em, sir," was the reply. "It was the cat." "There's no cat in the house. Come down." "In a minute, sir, when I've recovered myself." He waited the minute, and down came the woman, with a vacant smile on her face, and a number of pieces of broken crockery in her hands, which she let fall with a crash on the floor of the shop. "The cat, eh?" "Yes, sir, the cat." "Where did it come from? The sky? What is that sticking out of your pocket? The skeleton of the cat? No. A bottle. Empty, of course." "Yes, sir, worse luck." "Mrs. Chizlet," said Mr. Loveday, gravely, "last Friday you broke two dishes." "Not me, sir." "Well, the cat. This day week the cat broke all my cups and saucers. If I keep you in my service, in the course of another week there will not be a sound piece of crockery or glass in the place. Therefore I will not trouble you to come here again." "We're all born, and none buried," said the charwoman, with a silly smile. And having received her half-day's wage, she departed contentedly, and made her way to the nearest public-house.