As he concluded, he turned from the window and sat down by a small table, upon which a lighted lamp had been placed, and where a few law papers were awaiting a perusal.

A little boy and girl were sitting opposite to him.  The boy was playing with a small fly-trap, wherein he had already imprisoned a vast number of buzzing sufferers.  In appearance he bore a close resemblance to his father; he had the same red hair and sallow complexion, but his grey eyes had a dull leaden hue.

“Do let them go, George, do!” said the little girl, in a pleading tone.  “You’ll kill them, shut up there.”

“I don’t care if I do,” replied he, doggedly; “I can catch more—­look here;” and as he spoke he permitted a few of the imprisoned insects to creep partly out, and then brought the lid down upon them with a force that completely demolished them.

The little girl shuddered at this wanton exhibition of cruelty, and offered him a paper of candy if he would liberate his prisoners, which he did rather reluctantly, but promising himself to replenish the box at the first opportunity.

“Ah!” said he, in a tone of exultation, “father took me with him to the jail to-day, and I saw all the people locked up.  I mean to be a jailer some of these days.  Wouldn’t you like to keep a jail, Liz?” continued he, his leaden eyes receiving a slight accession of brightness at the idea.

“Oh, no!” replied she; “I would let all the people go, if I kept the jail.”

A more complete contrast than this little girl presented to her parents and brother, cannot be imagined.  She had very dark chestnut hair, and mild blue eyes, and a round, full face, which, in expression, was sweetness itself.  She was about six years old, and her brother’s junior by an equal number of years.

Her mother loved her, but thought her tame and spiritless in her disposition; and her father cherished as much affection for her as he was capable of feeling for any one but himself.

Mrs. Stevens, however, doted on their eldest hope, who was as disagreeable as a thoroughly spoiled and naturally evil-disposed boy could be.

As the evenings had now become quite warm, Mr. Garie frequently took a chair and enjoyed his evening cigar upon the door-step of his house; and as Mr. Stevens thought his steps equally suited to this purpose, it was very natural he should resort there with the same object.

Mr. Stevens found no difficulty in frequently bringing about short neighbourly conversations with Mr. Garie.  The little folk, taking their cue from their parents, soon became intimate, and ran in and out of each other’s houses in the most familiar manner possible.  Lizzy Stevens and little Em joined hearts immediately, and their intimacy had already been cemented by frequent consultations on the various ailments wherewith they supposed their dolls afflicted.

Clarence got on only tolerably with George Stevens; he entertained for him that deference that one boy always has for another who is his superior in any boyish pastime; but there was little affection lost between them—­they cared very little for each other’s society.