at last that every person in the place, except Tony, gathered about the boys in a ring, encouraging and cheering them.  It was long after midnight before silence and rest came, and then he fell into a broken slumber, dreaming of Dolly and old Oliver, until he awoke and found his face wet with tears.  He got up before any of his bed-fellows were aroused, and made his way out into the fresh keen air of a December morning.

Day after day went by, and night after night Tony was growing more indifferent again to the swearing and fighting of his old comrades.  He began to listen with delight to the tales of Clever Dog Tom, who told him that hands like his would work well in his line, and his innocent-looking face would go a long way towards softening any judge and jury, or would bring him favour with the chaplain, and easy times in gaol.  He kept his crossing still, and did tolerably well, earning enough to keep himself in food, and to pay for his night’s shelter; but he was beginning to hanker after something more.  If he could not be good, and be on the same side as old Oliver and Dolly, he thought it would be better to be altogether on the other side, like Tom, who dressed well, and lived well, and was looked up to by other boys.  It was a week after he had left old Oliver’s house, and he was about to leave his crossing for the night, when a gentleman stopped him suddenly, and looked keenly into his face.

“Hollo, my lad!” he said, “you’re the boy I gave fourpence to a week ago for holding my horse.  I told you to lay it out well.  What did you do with it?”

“Me and Dolly bought this broom,” he answered, “and I’ve kept this crossing ever since.”

“Well done!” said the gentleman.  “And who is Dolly?”

“It’s a little girl as I was very fond of,” replied Tony, with a deep sigh.  It seemed so long ago that he spoke of his love for her as if it was a thing altogether passed away and dead, yet his heart still ached at the memory of it.

“Well, here’s another fourpenny-bit for you,” said his friend, “quite a new one.  See how bright it is; no one has ever bought anything with it yet.  Dolly will like to see it.”

Tony held it in the palm of his hand long after the gentleman was out of sight, gazing at it in the lamplight.  It was very beautiful and shining; and oh! how Dolly’s eyes would shine and sparkle if she could only see it!  And she ought to see it.  By right it belonged to her; for had he not given her his first fourpenny-piece freely, and had twenty kisses for it, and then had she not given it him back to buy a broom with? she had never had a single farthing of all his earnings.  How he would like to show her this beautiful piece of silver, and feel her soft little arms round his neck, when he said it was to be her very own!  He felt that he dare not pass the night in the cellar with such a treasure about him, for Tom, who was so clever, would be sure to find out that his pocket was worth the picking, and Tony had not found that there was much honour among thieves.  What was he to do?  Where was he to go?