VANCE.--"You love your grandfather more than the doll?" SOPHY.--"Oh! a thousand million million times more." VANCE.--"He brought you up, I suppose? Have you no father,--no mother?" SOPHY.--"I have only Grandfather." LIONEL.--"Have you always lived with him?" SOPHY.--"Dear me, no; I was with Mrs. Crane till Grandfather came from abroad, and took me away, and put me with some very kind people; and then, when Grandfather had that bad accident, I came to stay with him, and we have been together ever since." LIONEL.--"Was Mrs. Crane no relation of yours?" SOPHY.--"No, I suppose not, for she was not kind; I was so miserable: but don't talk of it; I forget that now. I only wish to remember from the time Grandfather took me in his lap, and told me to be a good child and love him; and I have been happy ever since." "You are a dear good child," said Lionel, emphatically, "and I wish I had you for my sister." VANCE.--"When your grandfather has received from me that exorbitant--not that I grudge it--sum, I should like to ask, What will he do with it? As he said it was a secret, I must not pump you." SOPHY.--"What will he do with it? I should like to know, too, sir; but whatever it is I don't care, so long as I and Grandfather are together." Here Waife re-entered. "Well, how goes on the picture?" VANCE.--"Tolerably, for the first sitting; I require two more." WAIFE.--"Certainly; only--only" (he drew aside Vance, and whispered), "only the day after to-morrow, I fear I shall want the money. It is an occasion that never will occur again: I would seize it." VANCE.--"Take the money now." WAIFE.--"Well, thank you, sir; you are sure now that we shall not run away; and I accept your kindness; it will make all safe."