"Well, I am glad it is you," said the black, "and so may he. Come, I
shall conduct you home."

He caught her arm as he spoke, and drew her over to his side like an
infant.

"Come, my pretty girl, come; I will treat you tenderly, and all I shall
ask is a kiss in return. Here, young fellow," said he to Lamh Laudher,
with a sense of bitter triumph, "I will show you that one black kiss is
worth two white ones."

Heavy, hard, and energetic was the blow which the Dead Boxer received
upon the temple, as the reply of Lamh Laudher, and dead was the crash
of his tremendous body on the earth. Ellen looked around her with
amazement.

"Come," said she, seizing her lover's arm, and dragging him onward:
"gracious heavens! I hope you haven't killed him. Come, John, the time
is short, and we must make the most of it. That villain, as I tould you
before, is a villain. Oh! if you knew it! John, I have been the manes of
your disgrace and suffering, but I am willing to do what I can to remedy
that. In your disgrace, Ellen will be ready, in four days from this,
to become your wife. John, come to meet me no more. I will send that
villain's innocent wife to your aunt Alley's, where you now live'. I
didn't expect to see you myself; but I got an opportunity, and besides
she was too unwell to bring my message, which was to let you know what I
now tell you."

John, ere he replied, looked behind him at the Dead Boxer, and appeared