VERY HARD CASH.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND."

CHAPTER IV.

THE long vacation commenced about a month
afterwards, and Hardie came to his father's
house, to read for honours, unimpeded by
university races and college lectures; and the
ploughed and penitent one packed up his
Aldrich and his Whateley, the then authorities
in Logic, and brought them home,
together with a firm resolution to master that
joyous science before the next examination for
Smalls in October. But lo!, ere he had been an
hour at home, he found his things put neatly
away in his drawers on the feminine or vertical
system — deep strata of waistcoats, strata of
trousers, strata of coats, strata of papers — and
his Logic gone.

In the course of the evening he taxed his
sister good humouredly,and asked " what earthly
use that book was to her, not wearing curls."

"I intend to read it, and study it, and teach
you it," replied Julia, rather languidly
considering the weight of the resolve.

"Oh, if you have boned it to read, I say no
more; the crime will punish itself."

"Be serious, Edward, and think of mamma!
I cannot sit with my hands before me, and let
you be reploughed."

"I don't want. But — reploughed ! — haw,
haw! but you can't help me at Logic as you
used at Syntax. Why, all the world knows a girl
can't learn logic."

"A girl can learn anything she chooses to
learn. What she can't learn is things other
people set her down to." Before Edward could
fully digest this revelation, she gave the
argument a new turn, by adding fretfully, "And
don't be so unkind, thwarting and teasing me!"
and all in a moment she was crying.

"Halloa!" ejaculated Edward, taken quite by
surprise. "What is the matter, dears?"
inquired maternal vigilance from the other end of
the room.

"I don't know, mamma," said Edward.
"What on earth is it, Julia?"

"N-othing. Don't torment me!"

Mrs. Dodd came quietly to them. " You did
not speak brusquely to her, Edward?"

"No, no," said Julia, eagerly. " It is I that
am turned so cross, and so peevish. I am quite
a changed girl. Mamma, what is the matter
with me?" And she laid her brow on her
mother's bosom.

Mrs. Dodd caressed the lovely head soothingly
with one hand, and made a sign over it
to Edward to leave them alone. She waited
quietly till Julia was composed: and then said,
softly, " Come, tell me what it is; nothing that
Edward said to you; for I heard almost every
word, and I was just going to smile, or nearly,
when you — And, my love, it is not the first
time, you know; I would not tell Edward, but
I have more than once seen your eyes with tears
in them."

"Have you, mamma?" said Julia, scarcely
above a whisper.

"Why, you know I have. But I said to
myself it was no use forcing confidence. I thought
I would be very patient, and wait till you came
to me with it; so now, what is it, my darling?
Why do you speak of one thing, and think of
another? and cry without any reason that your
mother can see?"

"I don't know, mamma," said Julia, hiding her
head. " I think it is because I sleep so badly.
I rise in the morning hot and quivering, and
more tired than I lay down."

"I am sorry to hear it," said Mrs. Dodd.
"How long is this?"

Julia did not answer this question; she went
on, with her face still hidden, " Mamma, I do feel
so depressed and hysterical, or else in violent
spirits; but not nice and cheerful as you are, and
I used to be; and I go from one thing to
another, and can settle to nothing; even in church
I attend by fits and starts: I forgot to water
my very flowers last night: and I heard Mrs.
Maxley out of my window tell Sarah I am
losing my colour. Am I? But what does it
matter? I am losing my sense; for I catch
myself for ever looking in the glass, and that
is a sure sign of a fool; and I cannot pass
the shops; I stand and look in, and long for the
very dearest silks, and for diamonds in my hair."
A deep sigh followed the confession of these
multiform imperfections; but the criminal looked
a little relieved by it; and half raised her head
to watch the effect.

As for Mrs. Dodd, she opened her eyes wide
with surprise; but at the end of the
heterogeneous catalogue she smiled, and said, "I
cannot believe that. If ever there was a young