WITH A WINE-GLASS. 51

lead-colored, and her feet felt as heavy as her
heart. The shoe-black brigade boy had left
his box and brushes close to the railings at
_ Buckingham palace, and was talking with a
knot of youngsters at the entrance to the Bird-
cage walk. They were all troubled about
something, vesticulating ; and as the boy turned
his face towards her, Mary saw two stripes
down his face, that had been washed quite
clean by tears. Another time she would have
inquired the reason, but curiosity was dead
within her, and she went heavily homeward,
and set about preparing tea in the one really
clean and comfortable room that Mrs. Byrne
shared with her; it boasted of two windows,
and its being at the top of.the house they con-
sidered a great advantage, for two rooms had
been thrown into one; which, according to
Peggy, made it as good as two; and Pegey
had “the finest board and the best light in
| London, for getting up small things ;”’ and