"LOW LIFE." 21

clouds of dust, but by the flour warfare, which powdered him
white like a miller's dog. As Prince could not wear a veil,
his small eyes were filled till he could hardly blink at the
flying hedges, or, after his arrival, at the grand stand, the
starting-point, the negro serenaders, and the gipsy fortune-
tellers.
 On the whole, Prince had a tolerably happy youth, for a
dog of his condition, under Jack's auspices. It might not
have been so improving as one could wish, but he learnt
some proficiency in shifting for himself, and being philosophi-
cal when nothing better offered-a valuable lesson for more
than dogs.
 Everything comes to an end, and few things sooner, alas!
than the hand-to-mouth drifting with the tide of careless,
improvident working people. There came a time, at no dis-
tant date in Jack's and Prince's household, in which there
were no longer treats and dainties going. Bacon, buttered
toast, and saveloys vanished from the board.. Meals became
intermittent. Bit after bit of furniture, and every scrap of
clothing that could be spared, were put in pawn at one
of the shops with the three golden balls above the doorway.
The mother of the family was laid down with typhus, and
removed to the nearest hospital. Young Gussy and Fred
shared the same fate.
 Poor Jack, hanging his head, began to speak of parting
 with Prince. He had often wished he could put him in
 pawn with the rest of the pledged goods, and borrow a little
 money on Prince's capabilities of keeping guard and ratting.
 Jack had joked in his half-rueful, half-rough fashion on the
 dog's not eating his head off, since he could hardly tell on