unprincipled--the kind of man who frequents "proper rest'rants" and
sits in the stalls at "theaytres," where, doubtless, Polly had made
his acquaintance. After brooding a day or two on this idea he
procured a sheet of the cheapest note-paper and sat down in his
bedroom, high up at Chaffey's, to compose a letter for his
daughter's behoof.

"DEAR POLLY,

"I write you these few lines to say that the more I
think about you and your way of carrying on the less I like the look
of it, and the sooner I make that plain to you the better for both
of us, and I'm sure you'll think the same. You are that
strong-headed, my girl; but listen to the warnings of experience,
who have seen a great deal of the wicked world, and cannot hope to
see much more of it at my present age. There will come a day when
you will wish that you could hear of me by a note to Chaffey's, but
such will not be. Before it's too late I take up the pen to say
these few words, which is this: I have always been a respectable and
a saving man, which I hope to be until I am no more. What I mean to
say is this, Chaffey's is not what it used to be. But I have laid
by, and when it comes to the solemn hour then Mr. Walker has
promised to make my will. All I want to say is that there may be
more than you think for and if you are respectable I think it most
likely all will be yours. But listen to this, if you disgrace
yourself, my girl, not one halfpenny nor yet one sixpenny piece will
you receive from

"Your affectionate father
"EBENEZER SPARKES