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"What do you mean?"

"Well, sir, there are other names for it, but--hem!--I prefer to

call it 'the shorter way'"

"Do youand raising protesting hands,

"I said 'the shorter way' Poor little Miss Pell--a lady born,

sir--she used to curtsy to me on the stairs, she chose 'the shorter

way' She also was old, you see, and weary And to-night I met

another who sought to take this 'shorter way'--but he was young, and

for the young there is always hope So I brought him home withsuddenly to his feet and Mr Bilance fearfully towards the door which was quivering beneath the

blows of a ponderous fist Therefore Barnabas rose and crossing the

room, drew the latch Upon the threshold stood Corporal Richard Roe,

loo saluted Barnabas

with his shining hook, spoke in his slow, diffident ht I speak a i' you?"

"Why, Corporal, I' soldier with another ht I ax you to step outside wi' me jest a y to Mr Biloo and

closed the door Now at the further end of the landing was a ,

open to adlanced down stealthily into the court below, beckoning Barnabas to

do the like: "Sir," said he in a muffled tone, "d' ye see them two coves in the