was the last; she that I've seen pining day by day, and heard weeping in the dead of night! She was the last, the last of all my friends! Heaven help me, she was the very last!'

Seeing that the tears were stealing down his face, Jonas mustered courage to unclench his hands, and push him off before he answered:

`Did you hear me ask for her? Did you hear me send for her? How can I give you up what I haven't got, idiot! Ecod, I'd give her up to you and welcome, if I could; and a precious pair you'd be!'

`If she has come to any harm,' cried Chuffey, `mind! I'm old and silly; but I have my memory sometimes; and if she has come to any harm--'

`Devil take you,' interrupted Jonas, but in a suppressed voice still; `what harm do you suppose she has come to? I know no more where she is than you do; I wish I did. Wait till she comes home, and see; she can't be long. Will that content you?'

`Mind!' exclaimed the old man. `Not a hair of her head! not a hair of her head ill-used! I won't bear it. I-- I--have borne it too long Jonas. I am silent, but I--I--I can speak. I--I--I can speak--' he stammered, as he crept back to his chair, and turned a threatening, though a feeble, look upon him.

`You can speak, can you!' thought Jonas. `So, so, we'll stop your speaking. It's well I knew of this in good time. Prevention is better than cure.'

He had made a poor show o' playing the bully and evincing a desire to conciliate at the same time, but was so afraid of the old man that great drops had started out upon his brow; and they stood there yet. His unusual tone of voice and agitated manner had sufficiently expressed his fear; but his face would have done so now, without that aid, as he again walked to and fro, glancing at him by the candelight.

He stopped at the window to think. An opposite shop was lighted up; and the tradesman and a customer were reading some printed bill together across the counter. The sight brought him back, instantly, to the occupation he had forgotten. `Look here! Do you know of this? Is it found? Do you suspect me?'

A hand upon the door. `What's that!'

`A pleasant evenin',' said the voice of Mrs. Gamp, `though warm, which, bless you, Mr. Chuzzlewit, we must expect when cowcumbers is three for twopence. How does Mr. Chuffey find his self to-night, sir?'

Mrs. Gamp kept particularly close to the door in saying this, and curtseyed more than usual. She did not appear to be quite so much at her ease as she generally was.

`Get him to his room,' said Jonas, walking up to her, and speaking in her ear. `He has been raving to- night--stark mad. Don't talk while he's here, but come down again.'

`Poor sweet dear!' cried Mrs. Gamp, with uncommon tenderness. `He's all of a tremble.'

`Well he may be,' said Jonas, `after the mad fit he has had. Get him up-stairs.'

She was by this time assisting him to rise.

`There's my blessed old chick!' cried Mrs. Gamp, in a tone that was at once soothing and encouraging. `There's my darlin' Mr. Chuffey! Now come up to your own room, sir, and lay down on your bed a bit; for you're a-shakin' all over, as if your precious jints was hung upon wires. That's a good creetur! Come with Sairey!'

`Is she come home?' inquired the old man.