come to an open rupture with him at once. Accordingly, she one morning knocked at his door, and, being invited in, said, in honied accents, that she must ax his pardon for what she was going to say, but she was sure that a gintleman like him would be afther pardoning a poor widow woman.

"Oh, certainly, Mrs. O'Callaghan," said Joseph, without waiting to hear what his landlady was about to say.

"Ah, an' its sirtain sure I was, that a gintleman like you would jist do that same," remarked Mrs. O'Callaghan.

"But what were you going to say, Mrs. O'Callaghan?" inquired Joseph.

"Well, sir, an' if yer honour would not be takin' it amiss, I was going to say that it would be a great obligement to me if it would be convanient to you to pay me my small bill of three pound six and sevenpence."

"Oh, ay, to be sure. Really, Mrs. O'Callaghan," said Joseph, a good deal surprised by

the application, coupled with a consciousness of his inability to pay it, "really, Mrs. O'Callaghan, I owe you an apology for having allowed it to run on so long."

"I'll not trouble you, sir, for any 'pology," said Mrs. O'Callaghan, not having any definite ideas of what the word apology meant, “if you can only make it convanient to pay the bill."

"I'm really sorry, exceedingly sorry,” said Joseph, "but it is not in my power to settle the little matter just now, having been making some large payments lately."

“I would not,” pursued Mrs. O'Callaghan, "been afther axing it from you, but I have my rint to pay next week."

"Oh, next week!" exclaimed Joseph; "by that time I'll have plenty of money, and I give you my solemn promise you shall be honour ably paid next week."

"Thank you, Mr. Brackendorchy. It's a very grate favour you'll be doing a poor honest Good mornin', sir."

woman.

"Good morning, Mrs. O'Callaghan."

The latter had descended several steps of the stair, when, a thought suddenly striking her, she hastily returned, and re-opening the door of Joseph's apartment and thrusting her head inside, said "Yer sure and sirtain, Mr. Brackenorchy, I've not offended you by axing the thrifle ?"

"Oh, not in the least-not in the least, I assure you, Mrs. O'Callaghan,” replied Joseph, in emphatic tones.

Thus re-assured, Mrs. O'Callaghan retired one of the happiest women in London,-or out of it. Three pounds some odd shillings was just the sum she wanted to make up her rent, and she now looked forward to quarter-day without, what she herself called, a "taste of fear."

Next week came, and so did the eve of quarter-day. Still there were no symptoms of Joseph's bill being about to be paid. He came home that evening at the unusually early hour

of eight; but it was now ten, and he had made no allusion to his promise of last week. "Shall I ax him agin for the money?" inquired Mrs. O'Callaghan, addressing herself to herself. "No, you'd betther not," she replied. be, Judy O'Callaghan, he'll be afther paying you early to-morrow mornin'," she resumed, continuing the self-sustained dialogue.

May

And having come finally to the resolution to wait till she should see what the morning would do for her, Mrs. O'Callaghan went to bed.

To-morrow came, as every to-morrow will, until the death-knell of time itself shall sound. Having gone to bed the previous evening much earlier than usual, Joseph got up at the (to him) very early hour of ten in the morning. Mrs. O'Callaghan watched his every motion, lest he should slip out unknown to her. Every moment she expected, or rather hoped, she should be summoned into his presence to receive payment of her bill. No such summons came; but

by-and-by Joseph himself was heard descending the stairs on his way out.

"Mr. Brackenordorchy," said Mrs. O'Callaghan, just as he was in the act of opening the door. "I ax your pardon, sir, but you have forgotten to settle the thrifling account you so kindly promised me; and this is the day I have to pay my rint. Would it be convanient now."

"Upon my honour, Mrs. O'Callaghan, I'm exceedingly sorry I cannot at this moment. I've been disappointed in a large sum due to me; but you may rely on it on Wednesday next, as on that day I am to receive £100 for a new work about to appear, of which I am the author. Will you take my word once more?"

"And sure I must, Mr. Brackenordorchy, if I can get nothing betther," replied Mrs. O'Callaghan, drily."

"I won't deceive you, Mrs O'Callaghan."

"I've only your own word for it, which you know I had before," said Mrs. O'Callaghan, sarcastically.