The gang, of which the illustrious Dick Barker had formed one, had wisely disappeared, never to return.

But one day, when Carrie, in her nurse’s dress, was walking along Oxford Street, in the company of Max, to whom, with Mr. Wedmore’s permission, she was now engaged, she felt a hand in her pocket, and turning quickly, found that she was having her purse stolen, “for auld lang syne,” by Dick Barker.

Max recognized in the well-dressed young man, with the low type of face, the man whom he had once supposed to be his rival.

As Dick promptly disappeared, Carrie and Max looked at each other, and the girl burst into tears.

“Oh, Max, if it hadn’t been for you—­” whispered she, as she dried her eyes quickly and hurried on with him.

“And, oh, Carrie, if it hadn’t been for you—­” whispered Max back, as he took her into the shop of the Hungarian Bread Company, and made her have a cup of tea.