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stepping here.’ She conducted him a few yards to the left, till they were opposite the parlor window. The blind had been left up purposely, and the candle-light shone ont upon the garden bushes. Within the agent could see, at the other end of the room, the back and side of the old man’s head, and his shoulders and arm, silting with the book and candle before him, and his spectacles on his nose, as she had placed him.

“'He’s reading his Bible, as you see, sir,’ she says, quite in her meekest way.

“'Yes. I thought he was a careless sort of man in matters of religion,’

“' He always was fond of his Bible,’ Netty assured him. ‘Though I think he’s nodding over it just at this moment. However, that’s natural in an old man, and unwell. Now you could stand here and see him sign, couldn’t you, sir, as he’s such an invalid?’

“'Very well, said the agent, lighting a cigar.

'You have ready by you the merely nominal sum you'll have to pay for the admittance, of course ?”

“'Yes,’ said Netty. ‘Pll bringit out.’ She fetched the cash, wrapped in paper, and handed it to him, and when he had counted it the steward took from his breast-pocket the precious parchments and gaye one to her to be signed.

“Uncle’s hand is a little paralyzed,’ she said. ‘And what with his being half asleep, too, really I don’t know what sort of a signature he’ll be able to make.’

“Doesn't matter, so that he signs.’

“' Might I hold his hand ?

"' Aye, hold his hand, my young woman—that will be near enough.’

“Netty re-entered the house, and the agent continued smoking outside the window. Now came the ticklish part of Netty’s performance. The steward