Page:The Poor Rich Man, and the Rich Poor Man.djvu/167

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the morning of Mr. Beckwith's call, another and very different visiter knocked at Mrs. Aikin's door, and inquired "If there was not a woman, or creater, or something of that sort, by the name of Smith, living there." Mrs. Aikin boded no good, and, fearful Paulina would overhear the inquiry, she bade the man enter, answering him affirmatively while she closed the door.

"You need not be so private, mistress; I am none of her acquaintance, I can tell you, only as she under-rented two rooms of me, and went away owing me."

When the stranger entered, Juliet was reading to Mr. Barlow. She pressed his arm, whispering, "I know that man. He is horrid cross."

"Don't tremble so, my child, he'll not hurt you."

"Oh, I ain't afraid of him now—but I used to be."

This was said while Mrs. Aikin was communicating to the man the small likelihood that he would get his debt.

"I don't expect much," replied the man, "of the like of her, but I've got something that will bring something more." He took from his pocket a handkerchief, and, unrolling it, proceeded: "After that woman left my house, she missed a packet,