done so. Not that she had any definite
suspicion or any definite fear. It was simply
the vague foreboding that usually
accompanies a false step.

"It is for the children," she said hurriedly.
"And so I keep it sacred, even from myself.
Only the workhouse should drive me to
use it."

This was said gently, but with a certain
firmness of voice and decision of manner not
to be mistaken.

Robert was silent. But all that day, and
the next, and the day after, he was more
loving, playful, tender, fascinating, than he
had ever been; either before or after their
marriage.

"You had much better sell your stock and
good will and go out to America," he said,
suddenly, on the fourth day. " You are
losing your custom more and more every day,
and soon you will have nothing left to sell.
Take my advice, and part with all while you
can command your market. You will do
better with me in New York."

They were alone. It was evening, and the
little ones were in bed. Robert drew his
wife on his knee and kissed her.

"Sell all that you have,' he repeated, "and
come back with me to America. I had a
capital situation in New York, which I gave
up to come to you; but I may have it again
if I go back and ask for it within the year.
My master promised it. Be advised by me,
Janet. I know the world better than you do.
And is not our fortune the same?"

Janet at first demurred, then wept, then
relented, then refused again, wept afresh, and
finally consented; won over by the grand
promises and tender caresses her husband
lavished on her alternately. He had behaved
so well since he came back—he seemed to be
so thoroughly reformed—that Janet felt she
would have been wicked to have doubted
him. And was she not bound by the laws of
God and man to obey and follow him
whithersoever he might command? Janet's
religion somehow always took the form of
conjugal obedience—though who should say
it was from conjugal affection?

It was then agreed between them that a
sale should be announced, and that Janet
should dispose of her house and trade, her
furniture, good will, everything she had
called her own (Robert always said " ours "),
and set out with her husband to the New
World, to begin afresh, and enter on a new
and blessed life of prosperity alone.

Amidst ridicule, entreaties to reconsider
her step, and representations of the bitterest
misery, amidst prophecies of desertion,
perhaps of murder, and earnest prayers to cast
off this infatuation, Janet stole softly among
her friends on the day of the sale, trying
hard to keep up her heart, and to believe in
her own wisdom, and her husband's goodness,
but failing miserably, as each fresh volley of
satire or of entreaty burst upon her. If she
could have retracted she would; but the
thing was done now; and right or wrong she
must abide by her own decision.

The sale was effected, and by it Janet
realised a large sum of money; larger than
what she expected, or would have gained,
had she not been, so popular and beloved.
Altogether, taking out the fifty pounds
before mentioned, she made up one hundred
and fifty pounds, and with this her husband
asserted to her and everybody else, they
could make their fortunes in five years.

They took ship at Liverpool and sailed for
New York.

They had a prosperous voyage, and Janet
and the children bore it well. Robert, though
nothing like the old Robert of brutality and
ill-usage, was yet nothing like the tender
husband he had been of late. He was moody
and snappish, and more than once he told
Janet that a wife was a great hindrance to a
man, and that if he had been alone with such
a capital to start with, he would have been a
gentleman in a year or two.

"But if you had been alone, dear, you
would not have had such a capital," said
Janet, simply. " You know I made it for us."

He growled something unintelligible, and
walked away. Janet's heart sank within her.

"If I have been a fool after all!— if I have
been deceived again! " she thought as she
watched him stalking in the distance. But
she would not give way to such a thought,
and felt quite penitent that it had crossed
her.

"You must not mind my humours," said
Robert, coming back after a short time. " I
was always a sulky, ill-tempered boy, and,
Heaven mend me! I am not much better
now. Don't mind me, Janet, I don't mean
half I say."

He patted her head kindly, and kissed her
forehead, and for the next two or three days
they were very happy.

Land was in sight, and all was animation.
People running frantically above and below,
rushing after their luggage like mad things,
crying with pleasure or stilled by anticipation,
the fond heart beating, the needy soul hoping,
mothers calling to their little ones to look at
that dim strip in the horizon and to believe
that it was America; all the bustle of a
passenger-ship nearing port bewildered rather
than amused Janet.

"Here, Janet, take out the money from
that box," said Robert. " In all this
confusion it is not safe, for I shall have to leave
you on board while I go and look for lodgings.
Take it out and I will secure it."

Janet obeyed unhesitatingly.

"Where shall I put it?" she asked.

"Sew it into the inside of my waistcoat,"
said Robert, quietly. " It will be safe there."

She did as she was told; stitching it in
securely.

"I will come back again for you and the
children," he then said, kissing her, " as soon