anxiously looked forward to the time when he might reasonably expect a reply, if indeed his humble friends were still alive, and living still in the city of New York.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.

"Oh, Heaven! that such companions thou❜dst unfold,
And put in every honest hand a whip,

To lash the rascal naked through the world."-SHAKSPEARE.

ELLEN CARTER finished her task as quickly as she was able, giving herself no rest, beyond what was absolutely requisite, until it was completed; and then, with a beating heart and somewhat reluctant steps, she wended her way to the store in Chatham-street, for she hoped and yet dreaded to hear something relative to the stranger, who had so singularly interposed in her behalf: and yet she thought, as she hurried along the crowded streets, "It is likely that I may hear nothing further with regard to this gentleman; perhaps, even, he is unknown to the proprietor of the store. It may have been an impulse of pure generosity which impelled him to come to my assistance. I am sure I should be glad to do a similar kindness to any one in distress, were I in a position to do so. Mother thinks I had better make some inquiry

about him, and we did think it would be advisable to take no more work from the store, until we discover who our unknown friend is. But, then, I have no means yet of repaying the money, and the proprietor will return it to me, if I take no more work. It would be wrong for me to take it, since it was given in trust to the storekeeper, in order that by that means f might obtain work. I had better say nothing about it, perhaps; at least, until I have saved money to repay it, and to pay the deposit myself." Then her thoughts took another turn, and the recollection of her brother's late intemperate conduct recurred to her, and she mentally prayed that he might obtain some employment, which would occupy his mind, and save him from the temptation to mix with idle and dissolute companions; for since the day he had returned home in a state of intoxication, William Carter's behaviour had given his

parents and his sister great uneasiness. He had never drank so deeply again, as to be really intoxicated; but he had more than once shown signs of having indulged in drink, and every day since he had spent hours from home without giving any explanation of the causes which led him abroad, and still he had obtained no employment; his mother and sister feared that he had ceased to exert himself to procure it.

Thinking over these various painful matters, Ellen found herself at last opposite the shirt-store, and she crossed the street and went in.

Timidly she laid her bundle on the counter, and without saying a word, waited while the master of the store was settling with a young woman, whose errand, apparently, was of the same nature as her own.

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"This work is very carelessly done," said the tradesmanexamining a seam in one of the garments. Very carelessly done, indeed. You have been afraid of your stitches, surely. Why, the stuff will hardly hang together. It would not be a matter of much difficulty to count the stitches."

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"It has taken me a day-and-a-half to make each of those shirts, sir," said the young woman; and I am only to get ten cents a-piece for them. Indeed, I have done the best I can; and after the cost of the needles and thread is deducted, it does not leave me five cents a-day. I could work faster; but my baby occupies so much of my time."

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"That is no business of mine," said the shopman. "You should not apply for work if you have other matters to occupy your attention. See here: do you think I can afford to pay you ten cents a shirt for such work as this ?" and with a sudden and powerful jerk he ripped open a seam from top to bottom. "Take back this shirt, young woman, and sew it over again. The rest are badly done, but I'll let these pass this time; and when you return this garment we'll talk about payment.'

"But, you'll pay me for the other eleven shirts ?" said the young woman, imploringly.

"No-I never pay for a job until it is finished. That's a rule I've adopted, and I wont change it to please any one. Do as you please; either take back this shirt, and sew it over again, and then come for your money, or else leave the bundle, and get your pay how you can."

The young woman burst into tears, but without saying a word, she took the torn shirt, and rolling it up, left the store.

How Ellen's heart beat for her. How she wished that she

were able to offer her assistance; or that, as had been the case on the day she had made application for employment, some generous stranger had interposed with the obdurate shop-keeper, in behalf of the poor young widow-for that she was a widow, her attire testified, scanty and shabby as it was. But then she was a plain-looking young woman, worn with suffering and sorrow. There was nothing in her appearance to attract the notice and enlist the sympathies of the charitable!

It was only when the sobbing woman had left the store that Ellen thought that perhaps she might meet with similar treatment; and she half feared even to offer her work for the criticism of the hard-faced, keen shop-keeper; but he saw and recognised her, and to her great relief, although somewhat to her astonishment, he addressed her with kindness.

"So, young woman," he said, "you have brought back your work, eh? You have got your task completed quickly; that's what I like to see. Let me examine it." And he opened the bundle-but merely glancing at the shirts, continued

"It seems pretty well done. Let me see-six shirts at ten cents each is sixty cents. Here is the money;" and he handed her the poor pittance she had so hardly earned.

"I suppose you would like to take some more work home with you?" he said, as Ellen was placing the money she had received in her pocket.

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I should be glad to do so, sir," replied Ellen. "Ah-yes-well. Do you live far from here ?"

"In Mulberry-street, sir. I told you so when I was here the other day."

Yes, but I had forgotten. I asked, because I have no more material ready for you just now; but I shall have some in an hour's time. Do you think you could manage to look in again in the course of an hour ?"

Ellen felt a little disappointed, for it was hardly worth her while to return home and come back again-for that would occupy the entire hour-and to wander about the streets for an hour was still more tiresome. However, she decided upon the former plan, and promising to be back at the time appointed, she hastened home with the proceeds of her earn ings, and returned at the expiration of the hour to the store.

This time there was a gentleman in the store, busily engaged in examining some handkerchiefs. His back was turned towards her, and she could not see his face as she passed by him to the back part of the store, where it was the

custom to give out the work. The shopkeeper had been true to his promise; the linen was cut out and rolled up; and, with some fresh compliments upon her diligence, he placed the bundle in her hands, and she passed out of the store into the street, followed by the gentleman, who had at this moment completed his purchases.

She hastened home again with all possible despatch, not being aware that she was followed, at a short distance, by th stranger she had seen in the shop. But just as she reached the door of the tenement occupied by her parents, the stranger came up with her, and, to her surprise, she recognized the gentleman who, on the occasion of her first visit, had advanced the two dollars deposit to the proprietor of the store on her behalf.

He bowed to her, and she blushingly returned the salutation, and was passing into the house, when the gentleman addressed her.

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'You reside here, Miss ?" he said. "Yes, sir."

"By yourself?"

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Oh no, sir; I reside with my father and mother, and brother".

"Indeed! You may think me impertinent, but allow me to ask you, what is your father, and how is it that a young lady like you, has become so far reduced as to seek for such employment as this ?" pointing to the bundle Ellen had under her arm.

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'My father is one of the city watchmen," replied Ellen; "but during the past winter he has been laid upon a bed of sickness, and we have been reduced to a condition of poverty that we have never heretofore experienced." Then suddenly recollecting the conversation she had held with her mother with regard to the object of the stranger who had taken such interest in her, and perhaps also somewhat disconcerted by the familiar manner in which he had addressed her, and by the recollection that he must have followed her all the way from the store, she added, "Allow me to thank you, sir, in the name of my parents, for your kindness to me the other day; as soon as ever I have it in my power I will repay the money -I will leave it for you at the store."

She was turning away, when the stranger stopped her by bserving,

"Oh, you allude to that trifle I advanced as a deposit; I aad really forgotten it, and I beg you will think no more about it; I don't expect you to repay it "

"I shall repay it the moment I am able to do so, sir," said Ellen.

"It was advanced with no such expectation, I assure you," continued the gentleman. "So far from that, I should only be too happy to assist your father. It is a pity to see a young lady like you engaged in the laborious and badly remunerated employment of a seamstress."

"I must do what I can to obtain my living honestly," an swered Ellen, again turning away and entering the hall of the

tenement.

"Do not be in so great a hurry," said the stranger. "I have no doubt I—that is, my friends-could procure you more remunerative and more agreeable employment than this miserable shirt-sewing. I should like to speak with you upon that subject. Where can I meet you? do you never go out? Suppose now you meet me in the park this evening, and I will take you to my mother's house."

"I could not think of such a thing, sir," said Ellen, quickly. "If you wish to speak on such a subject, sir, you can see me here, in the presence of my father and mother." And without waiting for any reply, she hurried along the passage and ran up the stairs which led to the portion of the house occupied by the family of Joseph Carter.

Her mother was at home, and calling her on one side, she hastily related the substance of the conversation that had passed, and both came to the conclusion that as soon as the work that she had then obtained from the store was finished, no more should be accepted, unless, in the meanwhile, the stranger should call, and in the presence of the parents of the young woman he had voluntarily assisted, explain his motives for having done so, and for following her from the store to her dwelling, and making the additional offers of assistance. It had not struck Ellen; but the anxiously suspicious mother doubted not that the hour's delay demanded by the proprietor of the store had been asked with the object of again bringing her daughter into contact with the stranger.

A thousand anxious thoughts were engendered by this little episode. Mrs. Carter obtained but little sleep that night.