8 = DIGGING A GRAVE

ing the walnuts with her white, strong teeth,
_ then partially shelling, and exhibiting them
in rows round the edge of her extemporized
shop. She was jesting mirthfully with one —
of the lads of the shoe-black brigade, who
had indulged himself with a pennyworth —
of what the girl affirmed to be “ fine gool-
den wallnuts.” :
“Why, if that isn’t Nelly Livermore,”
said Peggy Byrne ‘to her young friend;
“Nelly, is your father in work on the Em-
-bankment still?”
| The sunshine faded out of the poor girl’s
face while she answered,

“* No, Mrs. Byrne, he is not.”

“Not!” repeated the clear-starcher, “ then
where is he ¢ bed |

6¢ Well, there was a bit of a misunder-
standing, and trying to set his comrade right,
they said he hot him rayther hard; any-
way, he’s got twelve Sundays for it.??