tide of life beat remorselessly for ever. And such life! For very pity
the child's heart grew heavy within her often as she looked upon the
stream of humanity in these poor streets, on the degraded, hopeless
faces, the dull eyes, the languid bearing of those who appeared to have
lost interest in, and respect for, themselves. She believed it wholly
sad. Standing on the outside, she knew nothing of the homely joys, the
gleams of mirth, the draughts of happiness possible to the very poor.
She thought their laughter, when it fell sometimes upon her ears, more
dreadful than their tears. So she slipped silently about among them,
quite unnoticed, looking on with large sad eyes, and almost as an angel
might. Sometimes looking to the heavens, which even walls and roofs of
stone could not shut out, she wondered how God, who loved all with such
a tender love, could bear to have it so. It vexed her soul with doubts,
and made her so unhappy that even in her dreams she wept. Of these
things she did not speak to those about her yet, though very soon it
became a habit with her and Walter to discuss the gravest problems of
existence.

The old man offered no objections to the lessons, only stipulating that
no unnecessary candles should be consumed. He allowed but one to lighten
the gloom of the large kitchen; and every evening after tea the same
picture might have been seen--the old man dozing in the chimney-corner,
and the two young creatures at the little table with books and slates,
the unsteady light of the solitary candle flickering on their earnest
faces. Teacher and taught! Very often in the full after years they
looked back upon it, and talked of it with smiles which were not far off
from tears. It is not too much to say that the companionship of Walter
was the only thing which saved Gladys from despair; but for the bright
kinship of his presence she must have sunk under the burden of a life so
hard, a life for which she was so unfitted; but they comforted each