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"Don't talk too much, Mag," said Mrs. Siddleton, mildly, "we shall see you all."

"Who in the world is that creature?" inquired Miss Flush, in a whisper, as she leaned heavily on Mrs. Siddleton's arm.

"Why, my dear Miss Flush, don't you know her? That is Mag Davis."

Miss Flush did not recollect ever meeting her before, although she had heard of her, and sometimes seen her wandering through the town.

"She has been here a long time," said Mrs. Siddleton.

"Oh, of course, Mrs. Siddleton, I don't wish to monopolize the talk," said Mag, "but I thought somebody ought to do the honors of the establishment!"

"You see she knows how to talk," said Mrs. Siddleton.

"It is surprising! And yet what a dreadful looking creature! I am afraid of her, and shocked at her appearance. Mrs. Rodman, do you know her?" inquired Miss Flush.

"Oh, to be sure; I have often spoken to her."

"Mag belonged to a tolerably good family," said Mr. Rodman. "Her education was thorough, but she lost her parents early, became poor and idle, and, here she is -- was it not so, Mrs. Rodman?"

"Yes, I think so; I have heard something of her history."

Mag had now wandered off into her room, where Roxy was lounging on the bed.

Tucker, with his long, gray beard, and red, almost blistered whisky face, encountered the party, and hoped they were "all well." As for James, he went right among them shaking hands, chattering with all, and inquiring into their several circumstances. Every one stared after him as he passed on, and wondered how he got out of the poor-house, and Mag and Roxy said they were c------ glad of it, for he was head and shoulders too tall to stay there.

"And they say," said Mag, "he's courting Alice there. Do see her, Roxy; here, you fool, peek through the door at her. 'Darn't?' Pshaw! you're jealous, coot, you won't. Ain't she tall and plump and handsome? Don't be a fool; look at her and say ' yes.'"

"I see her -- she's mighty handsome, I believe."

"That's it, and true. She'll make him as happy as a Frenchman."

"Pshaw! how do you know, old Mag?"

"You needn't snub me, Rox, Jims is no old beau of yours. He'd marry me just as quick as he would you."

"It's a c------ lie, you old trollope; he's romped with me a hundred times."

"Much good may it do you, miss -- . He'll marry that English girl, now, and she's as graceful as a swan. See her walk! And she's good too. See her shake old granny Wakeup and widy Prescott by the hand. Hang it -- but I'll go and shake hands with her myself -- ," and so off she started, but first she encountered James, and seizing him by the hand, cried out, "How are you, mister James? We are mighty glad to see you."

"Well, Mag, how do you do yourself? I am glad to see you looking pretty well -- 'alive and hearty,' as they say."

"Oh! ho! the Lord keeps some of us on hand yet, ha! ha! but I am getting sober, ha! ha!"

"Now I think, Mag, you are about as young as ever in your courage; you don't give up, I see."

"Lord, no, it's Roxy that does that -- "

"It's a lie, you wicked creature, and you know it!" screamed a voice behind the door.

"Whew! whew! old jealous Rox, I -- , ha! ha!" screamed the old hag, and passed on till she got Alice by the hand, and congratulated her on returning safe from her voyage.

"We had a fine voyage, Mag," said she.

"Yes, so Jims told me," she answered.

"Jims and you are old friends I believe," said Alice with a smile.

"Yes -- ha! ha! ha! Jims and I and Roxy used to sit up nights and tell stories. He's a mighty tall, handsome chap now, ain't he, though, eh?"

"I dare say he thinks pretty well of himself," said Alice, with a smile.

Miss Flush came up, and Mag, not having seen her before, on being told who she was made a sidelong courtesy, and smoothed down her dress and hair. Miss Flush couldn't keep her eyes off from her. There was a smartness and singularity about her that attracted her towards the old creature, repulsive as she was.

Mag told her she had been a poor miserable being more than forty years. She was born well, of goodly parents, educated well, and saw good company in her younger days. She was now over sixty years of age.

"When I was fifteen I was cast an orphan upon the world; and before I was thirty I had lost all friends -- all home restraints -- all virtuous modes of a living. I hired myself out as a housekeeper at the age of twenty-two to an old widower, who turned me off in six months, depraved and wicked. I have been so ever since, though, thank God! not always as wicked. But we are a poor, miserable set of outcasts; we are poor; we haven't any thing of our own; no money, no clothes fit to wear, no friends to help us. We are cursed by the Lord with the shame and degradation of POVERTY, that has no other name for it so bad. May God have mercy on you, young ladies, and keep you from it all your days! We are all dying as fast as we can, and hope it won't be as bad for us in the next world; but -- we don't know -- we suffer enough, one would think, in this world, if that were any thing. But widow Prescott says our sufferings arn't the thing; it is the sufferings of the Lord for us. Now how is it, Miss Flush, eh?"