"  He  looks  like  a  sailor,"  said  the  girl  who
threw  the  money,  '^but  he  does  not  pick  it  up.""

"  A  sailor !"  cried  Rose,  springing  to  her
feet ;  "  poor  fellow,  I  must  give  him  some-
thing!" and  directly,  amidst  the  scarcely  sup-
pressed laughs  and  railleries  of  her  companions,
she  threw  open  the  room  door,  and  bounded
down  the  stairs.
A  third  stunning  peal  threatened  to  break


ROSE  OF  WOODLEE.  119

the  bell- wire  ;  and  Jenny,  from  the  area  below,
shouted  in  no  moderate  rage,  *'  Get  away,  you
impertinent  rascal  !  'aven't  I  told  ye  afore  that
we  never  opens  the  door  to  wagrants  such
as  you !"

At  the  very  words,  however,  and  ])efore  the
youth  could  explain  his  errand  to  the  storming
kitchen-maid,  the  door  was  opened  ;--and,  to
the  amazement  of  the  girls  (who,  now  fairly
under  the  influence  of  idle  curiosity,  crowded
round  every  window),  he  rushed  instantaneously
into  the  house.
Five  minutes  passed — a  quarter  of  an  hour
— and  no  Rose  returned  : — and,  stranger  still,
no  beggar  boy  left  the  house.  The  goo<l-
humoured  railleries  ceased  :  the  impatient  si-
lence of  curiosity  followed,  and  then  the  voice
of  malice  breathed,  in  whispers  low,  ill-natured
hints  about  handsome  youths  and  silly  romantic
girls.
''  Miss  Rose  daren't  do  this  if  aunt  Massiter
was  at  home,  spoilt  as  she  is,"  said  one  damsel.
*' I  wish  she  would  come  and  catch  her!"
whispered  another,  spitefully ;  and  a  third  left


120  ROSE  OF  WOODLEE.
the  room  to  endeavour  to  spy  a  little  what  was
going  on.  These  were  but  few,  however ;  with
the  majority,  Rose  was  too  great  a  favourite  to
be  lightly  censured.
