MIKE  FLETCHER.  107

She  was  in  a  communicative  humour,  and  told  him
the  story  of  the  waiter,  whom  she  described  as  being
"a  fellow  like  Mike,  who  made  love  to  every  woman."
She  told  him  of  three  or  four  other  fellows,  whose
rooms  she  used  to  go  to.  They  made  her  drink  ;  she
didn't  like  the  beastly  stuff;  and  then  she  didn't  know
what  she  did.  There  were  stories  of  the  landlady  in
whose  house  she  lodged,  and  the  woman  who  lived  up-
stairs. She  had  two  fellows  ;  one  she  called  Squeaker
— she  didn't  care  for  him  ;  and  another  called  Harry,
and  she  did  care  for  him  ;  but  the  landlady's  daughter
called  him  a  ,  because  he  seldom  gave  her  any-
thing, and  always  had  a  bath  in  the  morning.
"  How  can  a  girl  be  respectable  under  such  circum-
stances ?  "  Lizzie  asked,  pathetically.  "  The  landlady
used  to  tell  me  to  go  out  and  get  my  living !  "

"  Yes  ;  but  I  never  let  you  want.  You  never  wrote
to  me  for  money  that  I  didn't  send  it."

**  Yes ;  I  know  you  did,  but  sometimes  I  think  she
stopped  the  letters.  Besides,  a  girl  cannot  be  respect-
able if  she  isn't  married.     Where's  the  use  ?  "

He  strove  to  think,  and  failing  to  think,  he
said —

"  If  you  really  mean  what  you  say,  I  will  marry
you."  He  heard  each  word  ;  then  a  sob  sounded  in
the  dark,  and  turning  impulsively  he  took  Lizzie  in
his  arms.
"  No,  no,"  she  cried,  "  it  would  never  do  at  all.
