Download the full version of the ebook at

https://ebookgate.com

Objective Measures in Cochlear Implants Core

Clinical Concepts in Audiology 1st Edition
Michelle Hughes

https://ebookgate.com/product/objective-measures-
in-cochlear-implants-core-clinical-concepts-in-
audiology-1st-edition-michelle-hughes/

Explore and download more ebook at https://ebookgate.com

 Recommended digital products (PDF, EPUB, MOBI) that
you can download immediately if you are interested.

Cochlear Implants in Children Ethics and Choices 1st

Edition John B. Christiansen

https://ebookgate.com/product/cochlear-implants-in-children-ethics-
and-choices-1st-edition-john-b-christiansen/

ebookgate.com

Cochlear And Brainstem Implants 1st Edition Aage R. Mller

https://ebookgate.com/product/cochlear-and-brainstem-implants-1st-
edition-aage-r-mller/

ebookgate.com

The Parents Guide to Cochlear Implants 1st Edition

Patricia M. Chute

https://ebookgate.com/product/the-parents-guide-to-cochlear-
implants-1st-edition-patricia-m-chute/

ebookgate.com

Implants in Clinical Dentistry Second Edition Richard

Palmer

https://ebookgate.com/product/implants-in-clinical-dentistry-second-
edition-richard-palmer/

ebookgate.com
Mini implants in Orthodontics Innovative Anchorage
Concepts 1st Edition Bjorn Ludwig

https://ebookgate.com/product/mini-implants-in-orthodontics-
innovative-anchorage-concepts-1st-edition-bjorn-ludwig/

ebookgate.com

Cochlear Implants and Hearing Preservation Advances in Oto

Rhino Laryngology Vol 67 1st Edition Paul Van De Heyning

https://ebookgate.com/product/cochlear-implants-and-hearing-
preservation-advances-in-oto-rhino-laryngology-vol-67-1st-edition-
paul-van-de-heyning/
ebookgate.com

Core Concepts in Contemporary Psychoanalysis Clinical

Research Evidence and Conceptual Critiques 1st Edition
Morris N. Eagle
https://ebookgate.com/product/core-concepts-in-contemporary-
psychoanalysis-clinical-research-evidence-and-conceptual-
critiques-1st-edition-morris-n-eagle/
ebookgate.com

Inequalities in Health Concepts Measures and Ethics 1st

Edition Nir Eyal

https://ebookgate.com/product/inequalities-in-health-concepts-
measures-and-ethics-1st-edition-nir-eyal/

ebookgate.com

Extracellular Matrix Derived Implants in Clinical Medicine

1st Edition Daniel L Mooradian

https://ebookgate.com/product/extracellular-matrix-derived-implants-
in-clinical-medicine-1st-edition-daniel-l-mooradian/

ebookgate.com
Objective Measures in Cochlear Implants

Michelle L. Hughes, PhD, CCC-A

5521 Ruffin Road
San Diego, CA 92123

e-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.pluralpublishing.com

49 Bath Street
Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 1EA
United Kingdom

Copyright © by Plural Publishing, Inc. 2013

Typeset in 11/13 Palatino by Flanagan's Publishing Services, Inc.

Printed in the United States of America by McNaughton & Gunn

All rights, including that of translation, reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, including photocopying, recording, taping,
Web distribution, or information storage and retrieval systems without the prior written consent
of the publisher.

For permission to use material from this text, contact us by

Telephone: (866) 758-7251
Fax: (888) 758-7255
e-mail: [email protected]

Every attempt has been made to contact the copyright holders for material originally
printed in another source. If any have been inadvertently overlooked, the publishers will
gladly make the necessary arrangements at the first opportunity.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hughes, Michelle L.
Objective measures in cochlear implants / Michelle L. Hughes.
p. ; cm. — (Core clinical concepts in audiology)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-1-59756-435-9 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 1-59756-435-4 (alk. paper)
I. Title. II. Series: Core clinical concepts in audiology.
[DNLM: 1. Cochlear Implants. 2. Evoked Potentials, Auditory. 3. Treatment Outcome. WV
274]
LC Classification not assigned
617.8'8220592 — dc23
2012021004
 Contents

Foreword by Series Editors Terry Zwolan and Jace Wolfe

Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
PART I. LAYING THE FOUNDATION
1 The Basics of a Cochlear Implant
Introduction
Anatomy of Severe to Profound Hearing Loss
Basic Principles of Electrical Stimulation of the Auditory System
Basic Parts and Functions of a Cochlear Implant
Past and Present Devices
Candidacy
2 Signal Delivery
Channels Versus Electrodes
Signal Type
Stimulus Timing
Electrode Configuration
Electrode Design
Summary
PART II. NONPHYSIOLOGICAL OBJECTIVE MEASURES
3 Electrode Impedance
Introduction
The Basics of Electrode Impedance
How Impedance Is Measured Clinically
Clinical Uses for Impedance Measures
Summary
4 Electrical Field Potentials
Basic Description
Measurement
Clinical Uses for Electrical Field Potentials
Summary
5 Averaged Electrode Voltages
Basic Description
Measurement
Factors Affecting AEV Measures
 Typical Patterns
Atypical Patterns
Clinical Uses for AEVs
Summary
PART III. PHYSIOLOGICAL OBJECTIVE MEASURES
6 Electrically Evoked Stapedial Reflexes
Introduction to Physiological Objective Measures
Basic Description
Measurement
Clinical Uses for ESRTs
Summary
7 Electrically Evoked Compound Action Potential
Basic Description
Measurement
Clinical Uses for ECAPs
Summary
8 Electrically Evoked Auditory Brainstem Response
Basic Description
Measurement
Clinical Uses for EABRs
Summary
9 Electrically Evoked Auditory Middle Latency Response
Basic Description
Measurement
Clinical Uses for EAMLRs
Summary
10 Electrically Evoked Auditory Cortical Potentials
Introduction
Electrically Evoked Auditory Late Response
Electrically Evoked Acoustic Change Complex
Mismatch Negativity
P300 Response
Summary
References
Index
 Foreword

Objective Measures in Cochlear Implants by Michelle Hughes is the latest addition to the
Cochlear Implant component of the Core Clinical Concepts in Audiology series. Dr. Hughes
begins by providing us with a thorough historical overview of commercially available
cochlear implant systems (Chapter 1), followed by a detailed description of signal delivery
with cochlear implants (Chapter 2). These two chapters lay important groundwork for
information provided in the following chapters, where she describes both nonphysiological
and physiological objective measures. The chapter on nonphysiological measures is a “must
read” for all clinicians who work with implant recipients, as it provides an overview of the
basic principles of impedance testing, where Dr. Hughes reviews important clinical issues
such as short circuits, open circuits, and changes over time. Chapters 4 and 5 provide a brief
overview of electrical field potentials and averaged electrode voltages, respectively. In the
final five chapters (Chapters 6–10), Dr. Hughes describes physiological measures from
different levels of the auditory system in response to electrical stimulation through a cochlear
implant, including electrically evoked stapedial reflexes, electrically evoked compound action
potentials, electrically evoked auditory brainstem response, electrically evoked auditory
middle latency response, and electrically evoked auditory cortical potentials.

We appreciate that Dr. Hughes has taken the time to share her expertise with us, and we are
pleased to provide you with this book, which helps us understand the important and complex
topic of objective measures with cochlear implants.

Terry Zwolan, PhD

Jace Wolfe, PhD
Series Editors
 Preface

This text represents one of the few books ever published dedicated solely to objective
measures in cochlear implants. It is designed to provide a strong foundation for many of the
basic concepts that underlie physiological and nonphysiological objective measures, and to do
so in a clear, straightforward way. When I teach, I rely heavily on that old adage, “A picture is
worth a thousand words.” So, I have packed this book with as many schematics, pictures, and
graphs as possible to clearly demonstrate the concepts described within. Furthermore, each
chapter ends with a brief summary of the key points presented. My hope is that I have created a
clear, concise tutorial that is useful for students, clinicians, and practicing scientists. This book
is by no means exhaustive in its coverage of the topic (after all, I had a page limit). But, I hope
that you will find it provides a good foundation for understanding objective measures in
cochlear implants, and that you will learn a thing or two along the way.
 Acknowledgments

My friend and mentor, Carolyn Brown, once told me that I should write a book like this. At the
time, I laughed and said something like, “Are you crazy? Can you even imagine how hard that
would be?” But, it was something that remained in the back of my mind, and I guess I put it on
my professional bucket list at that point. Years later when Jace Wolfe called to ask if I'd be
interested in writing a book on objective measures in cochlear implants as part of Plural
Publishing's Core Clinical Concepts in Audiology series, I thought, Hey, here's an opportunity
to make it happen. (I had no idea what I was getting myself into.) But, the process was a
beautiful learning experience and one that I truly value. So, thank you Carolyn for believing
long ago that I could do something like this, and thank you Jace for asking. I'd also like to thank
Mandy Licata at Plural Publishing for being gentle, supportive, and positive throughout this
process.

I am deeply indebted to many people who assisted me with this undertaking. For Chapter 1,
the following people helped secure photos of old and new internal and external devices,
checked facts regarding the history of each manufacturer's devices, and provided permissions
to reproduce photos: Mike Brownen, Tracey Kruger, Arlie Adam, Cheryl Garma, Mark
Downing, Sharon Smith, and Darci Teobaldi from Advanced Bionics LLC; Susan Trouba and
Darla Franz from MED-EL; and Peter Arkis, Barbara Buck, and Mike Leman from Cochlear
Americas. Bas Van Dijk (Cochlear Europe) and Prasanna Aryal (Boys Town National
Research Hospital) provided feedback on an earlier version of Chapter 3. Filiep Vanpoucke
(formerly with Advanced Bionics Europe) provided figures and feedback for an earlier
version of Chapter 4. Paul Abbas, Carolyn Brown, and Christine Etler (University of Iowa)
provided EABR waveforms for Chapter 8. Shuman He (University of North Carolina-Chapel
Hill) provided BIC waveforms from her dissertation work at the University of Iowa for
Chapter 8. Karen Gordon and Salima Jiwani (Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto) provided
EMLR and cortical waveforms for Chapters 9 and 10. Kelly Tremblay (University of
Washington) provided valuable feedback for Chapter 10, and was willing to do so with a very
short time line. Thank you all so very much.

As for the local crowd: I would like to thank Skip Kennedy from Boys Town National
Research Hospital, who always made time for me (also usually on short notice), and Gina
Diaz, who helped with literature searches and securing articles. I would also like to extend a
special thanks to Jenny Goehring and Jacquelyn Baudhuin of Boys Town National Research
Hospital, who generously agreed to read every chapter, and kindly provided feedback on many
earlier drafts of the chapters that follow. I appreciate you more than you know. Finally, I would
like most to thank my husband Troy, who did more than his fair share of the domestic duties
and was always willing to be flexible so that I could finish this project. And, of course, I want
to thank our two beautiful children, Owen and Joslyn, for allowing me to take some of “their
time” to work on this book. I know it wasn't easy for you. I couldn't have done it without you.
Thank you all!
 About the Author

Michelle Hughes, PhD, CCC-A, is the Coordinator of the Cochlear Implant Program and
Director of the Cochlear Implant Research Laboratory at Boys Town National Research
Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. She is also an adjunct associate professor in the Department of
Special Education and Communication Disorders at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her
NIH-funded research program is aimed at investigating the relationships between
physiological and perceptual measures in cochlear implant recipients. She has published
numerous peer-reviewed journal articles on evoked potentials in cochlear implants, and has
presented her work nationally and internationally.

Dr. Hughes received her bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and
her MA and PhD degrees from the University of Iowa. She has served as a Contributing Editor
in cochlear implants for Audiology Online, an ad-hoc reviewer for national and international
grant institutes, and an ad-hoc reviewer for a number of highly ranked journals. Dr. Hughes
currently serves on the editorial board for Ear and Hearing, and is a member of the American
Academy of Audiology Clinical Practice Guidelines Task Force for Cochlear Implants.
This book is dedicated to my children,
Owen and Josie,
who inspire me every day.
 Part I

Laying the Foundation

 1

The Basics of a Cochlear Implant

INTRODUCTION

As children receive cochlear implants at increasingly younger ages, the use of objective
measures for clinical management becomes ever more important. For the purposes of this
book, “objective measures” encompass two general areas: (1) nonphysiological measures (i.e.,
device function and current fields), and (2) physiological (neural) measures. Objective
measures are used to serve a number of purposes:

1. To verify device function,

2. To identify malfunctioning electrodes,
3. To verify the integrity and function of the auditory pathway,
4. To obtain a baseline of neural function for tracking potential changes over time,
5. To assist in programming the cochlear implant sound processor,
6. To measure discrimination of different stimuli, and
7. To measure the plasticity of the auditory system.

The first step in learning about evoked potentials with cochlear implants is to gain a solid
understanding of: (1) the limitations of the impaired auditory system, (2) how responses to
electrical stimulation differ from those to acoustic stimulation, and (3) the device that delivers
stimulation to the auditory system. A cochlear implant is an electronic device that is surgically
implanted into the cochlea to provide electrical stimulation to the auditory nerve. The implant
bypasses damaged or malformed cochlear structures that would normally convert the
mechanical motion of the traveling wave into neural impulses. The cochlear implant is
therefore indicated for severe to profound hearing loss secondary to cochlear damage, not
neural loss. A critical component for successful cochlear implant use is that there must be a
functioning auditory nerve.

This chapter begins with some basic concepts regarding the anatomical changes that follow
severe to profound hearing loss. Next, the basic principles of electrical stimulation of the
auditory system are discussed, focusing on the primary differences in physiology between
acoustic and electrical stimulation. The basic parts and functions of a cochlear implant are
described, and more in-depth information about past and current devices for each manufacturer
is provided. Finally, although not the focus of this textbook, a brief description of present
candidacy criteria is included.

ANATOMY OF SEVERE TO PROFOUND HEARING LOSS

The Normal Auditory System

In the normal auditory system, sound waves enter the ear canal (Figure 1–1A), causing the
tympanic membrane to vibrate (Figure 1–1B), which in turn sets the ossicles (malleus, incus,
stapes) into motion (Figure 1–1C). The stapes footplate is connected to the cochlea via the
oval window (Figure 1–1D). As the stapes pushes inward, fluid in the cochlea is displaced,
generating a traveling wave. The cochlea is divided into three sections: scala tympani, scala
media, and scala vestibuli (Figure 1–1E). The basilar membrane separates the scala tympani
from the scala media. The organ of Corti, which contains inner and outer hair cells, sits atop
the basilar membrane (Figure 1–2). As the traveling wave pushes up on the basilar membrane,
stereocilia on the tips of the inner and outer hair cells bend open to allow potassium ions to
enter the cell, resulting in cell depolarization (Pickles, 1988). Outer hair cells provide active
mechanical feedback (via efferent neurons) to amplify the motion of the basilar membrane,
resulting in fine frequency tuning. Depolarization of the inner hair cells results in release of
neural transmitter, which causes auditory nerve fibers to produce action potentials. These
action potentials propagate along the brainstem to the auditory cortex, where the acoustic
sound wave is perceived as meaningful sound. In brief, the organ of Corti serves as a
transducer that converts the mechanical energy from the traveling wave into electrical neural
impulses.
FIGURE 1–1. Schematic illustrating the normal auditory pathway. A. External auditory canal. B. Tympanic membrane. C.
Ossicular chain (malleus, incus, stapes). D. Stapes footplate and oval window, leading to the cochlea. Inset E. Cross-section of
one cochlear turn. OC: Organ of Corti. BM: Basilar membrane. Illustration of the cross-section of the ear courtesy of MED-
EL.
The Impaired Auditory System

When substantial inner and outer hair cell loss, damage, or dysfunction occurs, as is often the
case with severe or profound sensorineural hearing loss, the cochlea loses its ability to convert
the mechanical energy from sound waves into neural impulses. The cochlear implant provides
a means to generate neural action potentials in lieu of functioning hair cells by depolarizing the
auditory neurons directly via electrical current instead of neural transmitter. This process is
illustrated in Figure 1–3.
FIGURE 1–2. Schematic illustrating normal cochlear function. As the traveling wave pushes up on the basilar membrane,
stereocilia on the tips of the inner and outer hair cells bend open to allow potassium ions to enter the cell. This results in the
release of neural transmitter, which causes afferent auditory nerve fibers to produce action potentials. (Efferent and afferent
fibers for the OHCs are not shown.) OHCs: Outer hair cells. Tect. M.: Tectorial membrane.

Sensorineural hearing loss is typically associated with a number of peripheral and central
anatomical changes. The loss of cochlear hair cells results in the loss of compression and
spontaneous activity of auditory neurons. Hair cell loss can also lead to degeneration of the
peripheral portion of auditory neurons (Figure 1–4B), reduction in spiral ganglion cell volume
(Figure 1–4C), demyelination of the cell body and/or axon (Figure 1–4D), and axonal
degeneration (Figure 1–4E) (e.g., Otte, Schuknecht, & Kerr, 1978; Spoendlin, 1975). These
degenerative processes can progress over the course of months to several years (Leake &
Hradek, 1988). Similar changes have been noted in the central auditory pathway, including
cortical reorganization (see Hartmann & Kral, 2004, for a review). Research has shown,
however, that the presence of supporting cells in the organ of Corti can delay degeneration of
auditory neurons (Sugawara, Corfas, & Liberman, 2005). Interestingly, there does not appear
to be a clear association between the number of surviving spiral ganglion cells and speech
perception with a cochlear implant (Fayad, Linthicum, Otto, Galey, & House, 1991; Linthicum,
Fayad, Otto, Galey, & House, 1991).
FIGURE 1–3. Schematic illustrating a cross-section of the impaired cochlea with a cochlear implant electrode array (Elec.) in
the scala tympani. Note the loss of cochlear hair cells within the organ of Corti. Electrical current from the implanted electrode
array compensates for hair cell loss (or other forms of cochlear dysfunction) by directly depolarizing the auditory neurons, and
bypassing the normal mechanism of neural transmitter release. Tect. M.: Tectorial membrane.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
 But the lady did not know Fisher's Lane. "Do you go to
the Ragged School?" she asked.

Susie shook her head. "I don't know where it is," she
said.

"That is a pity," said the lady, "for there is a Sunday

school there afternoon and evening, in a nice, warm room,
and the teachers would be glad to see you, I am sure."

"Would they?" said Susie. "I used to go to Sunday

school before we came to live here. Perhaps Elfie knows
where it is, and maybe she'll come with me."

"Ask her," said the lady; "we shall be very glad to see
you both."

She did not stay to ask who Elfie was; but she looked
after Susie as she ran down the street, and was surprised to
see her join poor, ragged, neglected-looking Elfie—for Susie
still contrived to keep a decent appearance, although her
clothes were so thin and old.

The lady's invitation was repeated to Elfie; but to

Susie's surprise she did not look at all pleased.

"Do you know where the school is?" asked Susie.

Elfie nodded. "Yes, I know where it is, but I shan't go."

"O Elfie, do," said Susie coaxingly.

"No, I shan't. You may, if you want to leave me all alone

on Sunday afternoons," said Elfie sulkily.

"But I don't want to leave you, Elfie; want you to come

with me," said Susie.
 "I don't want to come," said Elfie doggedly.

"Why not?" persistently asked Susie.

"I don't like schools, nor them that go to 'em." And to

end all further discussion on the subject, Elfie ran home,
leaving Susie to follow more leisurely.

There was nothing for her to hurry home for. The room
looked cold, bare, and desolate, for they could not indulge
in a fire to-day; they had not been able to make up the rent
money, and the thought of this had troubled Susie until she
went to church. There, however, she had heard the
message bidding her to cast her care upon God; and she
came home to the cheerless room, and her dinner of dry
bread, feeling as blithe as a bird.

"Why, what's come to you, Susie?" asked Elfie. "You was

crying and fretting about the rent money before you went
out, and now you look as though you'd got it all safe in the
tin box."

The mention of the rent brought a little cloud into

Susie's face, but it was quickly dispelled as she answered,
"O Elfie, I wish you could have heard the minister to-day,
and what he said about God taking care of us."

"It don't seem as though he took much care of you and

me," said Elfie sulkily, as she looked at the empty grate,
and tried to draw her rags over her bare shoulders.

"Are you very cold, Elfie?" asked Susie tenderly.

"I shouldn't think you was very warm," said Elfie

crossly. "Your frock ain't in rags perhaps, but it's as thin as
mine."
 "Yes, it is thin," said Susie, "and I'm cold; but it seems
to me God does care even for our being cold, for he's sent
to tell us we may go where there is a fire this afternoon."

"Where's that?" asked Elfie sharply.

"At the school the lady told me about," answered Susie.

"She said there was a fire there, and that they would be
very glad to see us."

"Well, I shan't go," said Elfie. "I'd rather stop here in

the cold."

This seemed unreasonable to Susie. "Do tell me why

you won't go?" she said.

"No, I shan't. And if you go, don't you tell anybody you
know me," said Elfie.

"Why not? Have you been to the school before?" asked

Susie.

"I shan't tell you, and I won't go," said Elfie doggedly.

Susie was puzzled. She hardly knew what to do, for she
did not like to leave Elfie, and yet she wanted to go to
school. But at length she decided to stay at home and read
to her companion, and go to the school in the evening, if
Elfie would show her the way; for they had no fire and no
candle to burn to-night, and it would be very dull to sit
there in the dark listening to the noises in the other lodgers'
rooms, for there was rarely a Sunday evening passed
without a quarrel in the house. Elfie would go out to play
with some of her companions as soon as it grew dusk; but
Susie had given up going out to play on Sunday.
 After a little persuasion, Elfie agreed to take Susie to
the corner of the street where the school was; but she
would not go any further, and she promised to meet her at
the same corner when she came out after school.

"But I don't know what time the school will be over,"

said Susie.

"I do," said Elfie with a short laugh; "but mind you ain't
to tell any of 'em who showed you the way," she added in a
more serious tone.

Susie promised not to mention her name, and she

hoped the lady who had invited her would forget that she
had said she would bring Elfie with her; but she could not
help thinking it very strange that Elfie should dislike the
idea of coming so much.

The children had begun to assemble when she reached

the school; and hardly knowing where she was going, Susie
went into the large, light, warm room, and looked round for
the lady whom she had seen in the morning. She was not
there, but another teacher came forward and asked her
name, and where she lived; and on hearing she could read
put her into the Bible class at once.

Susie looked shyly at her companions, who were, of

course, looking at her, but not very shyly, for many of them
looked as though they were used to a street life, and most
of them were older than herself. What a treat it was to
these poor girls to sit down in a warm, light room, Susie
could only guess. To her it was very delightful—the mere
sensation of light and warmth; and the only drawback to
her enjoyment was the thought that poor Elfie was not
sharing it.
 She could join in singing the opening hymn; and then,
when the books were given out, she found her place more
quickly than the rest, and ventured to lift her eyes to the
teacher's face for a minute, and then saw that the lady was
looking at her.

"You have not been to the school before, have you, my

dear?" she said in a gentle voice.

"No, ma'am," answered Susie.

"I hope we shall see you very often now. Can you come
every Sunday?" said the lady.

"Yes, ma'am," replied Susie.

And then, the others having found their places, the

reading commenced. The lady explained the meaning of
each verse as they went on, but spoke more particularly of
God's care for his children.

When school was over, and Susie met Elfie, she told her
of the evening lesson, and how like it was to what she had
heard in the morning; but Elfie answered, "I'm going to
take care of myself now, and then perhaps God will do it for
me by-and-by."

"I think we need God's care now," sighed Susie,

thinking of the deficient store of halfpence in the tin box at
home.

"Well, we don't get it," said Elfie defiantly; "and going to

that school won't bring it neither. Don't go again, Susie,"
she added.

"But I like it; and I must go now, because I've

promised," said Susie. "I do wish you would go with me, it
is so nice, Elfie. We sing, and read, and pray to God; and
the room is so beautiful with the fire and the gas."

"I know all about it," said Elfie sulkily; "and I know just
what you'll do too: you'll go to that school, and then you
won't like me. Some of 'em 'll tell you I'm a bad girl, and
then you won't speak to me." And the thought of this so
overcame poor Elfie that she burst into tears.

Susie put her arm round her neck, and drew her own
thin cape over her shoulders. "Nobody shall make me say
that about you, Elfie," she said. "Don't cry. I'll love you
always; and you shall come to school with me, and learn to
read."

But Elfie still shook her head about going to school. "I
can't go there," she said.

"Yes, you shall, Elfie. I know why you don't like to go;
it's because your frock is so old. But we'll try and make
another this week. I think mother would like you to have
her frock to go to school in," she added. "And there's her
shawl; perhaps we could make two of it; and I don't think
she'd mind, as we are so cold."

Susie was determined that nothing should damp her

happiness to-night, and she would not listen to Elfie's
refusal to go to school. She felt brave, too, or she could not
have spoken about cutting up her mother's dress and
wearing her shawl as she did. Yes, the little girl was brave
and hopeful. What she had heard of God's care and tender
love to-day had brought back all the lessons of her
childhood; and she could believe that God was her Father,
and cared—really cared for and loved her.

When they reached home she said, "I wish you'd kneel
down and say 'Our Father' of a night, like I do, Elfie."
 "But I don't know it," said Elfie.

"Well, I'll teach you, shall I? You can say it after me in

bed until you know it by yourself; only, I'd like you to kneel
down and say it first, like I did to mother."

Elfie was generally willing to do anything to please her

companion, and she very readily consented to this. And so,
after shutting the door, the two girls knelt down in the pale
moonlight beside a chair, and Elfie repeated the words
slowly and reverently as Susie uttered them—the divine
words that make all men brothers and all women sisters.

There must have been some such thought as this in

Susie's mind, for as she crept into bed after Elfie she said,
"I did not think of it before, but you are my sister, Elfie, so I
shall never forget to love you;" and she kissed her as she
spoke.

Elfie threw her arms round her. "Say you'll love me

always," she whispered; "for there's nobody else in all the
world if you don't."

"I do love you," said Susie. "But oh, Elfie, I wish you'd
believe God loves you too—that he is our Father."

"I don't know nothing about fathers; I never had a

father," said Elfie. "But if you'll love me, perhaps I shall
believe that God does, by-and-by—especially as the Lord
Jesus was a poor man. I like to hear about that, because,
you see, it makes it seem somehow that he knows all about
poor people—even street rubbish like I am, if he had no bed
and no home."

Before they went to sleep that night, Elfie had learned

to repeat the Lord's Prayer almost perfectly (she could learn
quickly if she liked); and at last dropped to sleep
murmuring the words, "Our Father—our Father." And Susie
thought over all she had heard that day of the heavenly
Father's love; and at last fell asleep, to dream that her
mother had come back to lift all the care off her shoulders,
and shelter her from every rough wind that blew.

But Monday morning brought the every-day anxiety

with it; and Susie's first thought was of the landlord, and
what he would say when he came in the afternoon and
found she had only tenpence of the rent saved up in the tin
box. She tried to recall something of what she had heard
the previous day—tried to cast her care upon God; but it
was very hard; and it was not until she had knelt down and
prayed, ay, and sobbed out her trouble before him, that she
could believe any of it this morning, although she had felt
so sure of it the day before.

Elfie had woke up first and gone out. She often did this
if there was only a small piece of bread in the house,
because then she could leave the bread for Susie, and pick
up her breakfast at the market, or about the streets.

So, after eating her bread, Susie took out her work,
sitting upon the low stool, with the blanket of the bed
wrapped round her, for it was bitterly cold this morning, and
they had no fire. They had been afraid to buy coals or
wood, as they could not make up the rent. This was Susie's
great anxiety this morning. What the landlord would say,
she did not know. He was a gruff, cross man; and Susie
dreaded his visit—sat trembling with fear at the thought of
hearing him come up the stairs; and again and again lifted
her heart in asking that they might not be turned out of
their home.
 CHAPTER IV.
ELFIE'S SIXPENCE.

SUSIE'S suspense as to the result of the landlord's visit

came to an end sooner than she expected. He called earlier
than usual to-day, and the poor girl's last faint hope that
Elfie would be able to earn twopence and get back before
he came was cut off as she heard his halting footsteps
coming up the stairs. He knocked at the opposite door first,
and Susie hoped he would be detained there, and she crept
to the top of the stairs and looked over, in the hope of
seeing Elfie coming up.

But Elfie was not to be seen; and with a sinking heart,

Susie went back and took down the tin box, and then sat
down to her work again, waiting for the door to open and
Elfie to come in, for somehow she had persuaded herself
that she would come in yet. But in a minute or two, the
opposite door closed, and then there was a knock at her
own. Susie could hardly walk across the room to open it,
she trembled so violently.

"Good morning," said the landlord pleasantly, as he

stepped in and looked round the room. "You keep the place
nice and clean," he said approvingly. "But why don't you
have a fire, child? It's cold to-day, and you sitting at your
sewing."

"Yes, sir," said Susie meekly, glancing at the empty

grate, and hardly knowing how to tell him she had not been
able to make up the rent.
 "You ought to have a fire," went on the man, not
noticing her confusion, and wishing to say something kind
to the poor little orphan. "You ought to have a fire this cold
day; every other room in the house has one."

"Have they, sir?" said Susie, thinking the man was

displeased. "I'm very sorry I can't get one too; but I don't
think the place will get damp—we have one sometimes."

"The place get damp!" repeated the landlord. "What do

you mean, child?"

"Please, sir, I thought you was afraid the room would

spoil," said Susie, still dreading to make the revelation that
she had only tenpence of the rent.

"Spoil!" repeated the man. And he looked round on the

patched, discoloured walls, and laughed. "Why, child, you
keep your room nicer than any other in the house. I was
thinking you must be cold."

"I don't mind that much, sir, if I can only stay here,"
said Susie; "but—but please, sir, I've only got tenpence of
the rent to-day. I hope you won't turn us out for the other
twopence. I'll try and pay it next week, sir," she added.

The man took the halfpence and counted them, and

then looked at the little pale, pinched face before him. He
loved money, and was used to scenes of misery, but was
not quite without human feeling, and Susie's mute distress
was almost more than he could look upon unmoved. "Who
told you I should turn you out, child?" he said.

"No one, but—but I was afraid you would if I didn't keep

the rent paid," said Susie.
 "Yes, to be sure—of course I should—I can't do without
my rent," said the landlord; "but still, in the case of a little
girl that's honest and tries to do her best, I shouldn't be
hard on her for twopence. But you mustn't let the others
know I said this," he added quickly.

"No, sir; and I'll try to pay it next week," answered

Susie with a sigh of relief; as the man turned towards the
door.

"Good-bye, child," said the man, still toying with the

halfpence he held in his hand. Susie thought he had gone,
and took up her work again, but the next minute he was
back.

"Never mind about the twopence next week," he said in

a hurried whisper: "and look here, child; I don't like to think
of you sitting here without a fire: go and buy some wood
and coals with this." And as he spoke he laid fourpence on
the table, and then hurried to the door again.

Susie could not thank him, she could only look her
dumb surprise, and then burst into tears. While he stumped
downstairs, wondering what could have made him give back
to the girl half a week's rent.

Susie knew how it was, although her landlord did not,

and still sobbing, she knelt down to thank God for his loving
care of her. As soon as her tears had subsided a little, and
she could smile at the thought of her anticipated trouble
that never came, she got up and went out to buy some
wood and coals to light a fire; for she ought to do this, she
thought, as the money had been given her for that purpose.
She wanted to surprise Elfie, too, by getting up a bright
blaze before she came in; so that she was rather
disappointed, when she returned with her load, to see Elfie
sitting down by the empty grate.

The coals were heavy, although there was only a small

quantity, and Susie was panting for breath as she pushed
open the door; but Elfie did not lift her head from her
knees, where she had buried her face, as she sat crouching
on the floor.

"What's the matter?" asked Susie in some alarm, as she

lifted the coals on to the hearth.

"Nothing," replied Elfie, without raising her head.

Susie thought she knew what it was. "Look up, Elfie,"

she said, in a tone of gladness: "the landlord's been here,
and it's all right now; and see what I've got."

Elfie slowly raised her head, but did not look at Susie or
the bag of coals. "The landlord's been here," she slowly
repeated; "then I'm too late after all;" and her head went
down lower than before.

Susie was puzzled, until looking round she saw a little

pile of halfpence on the table. "O Elfie, where did you get all
that money?" she said in a tone of joyful surprise, as she
sprang over to count it. "Sixpence! O Elfie, how rich we are!
And I've just been to buy some coals to make a fire. But
why don't you look up?" she added, as she noticed that her
companion's head was still bowed upon her knees.

But Elfie did not move, did not attempt to lift her head,
but grumbled out something Susie could not understand.

"Are you ill, Elfie?" asked Susie in alarm.

 "No, no; leave me alone, and light the fire," said the
girl, shaking off the hand that had been laid upon her
shoulder.

"I know what it is: you're sorry you did not get home in
time to pay the landlord. But it doesn't matter one bit; he
was very kind, and won't turn us out, and we ain't to pay
the twopence next week. Wouldn't you like to know how I
got the coals?" said Susie.

"How did you get 'em?" said Elfie, just lifting her head
for a minute.

"Hold your head up, then, and tell me how you got all
that money on the table first," said Susie laughing.

But Elfie's head went down again at once. "I don't want
to know about the coals," she said; "you can keep your
secret and I'll keep mine."

"But it isn't a secret, Elfie. I'll tell you all about it," said
Susie, beginning to place the wood in the grate, for she
could not afford to waste her time.

"I don't want to know," replied Elfie. "Perhaps the

angels your mother talked about brought you the money,"
she added.

"Did the angels bring yours?" asked Susie.

For answer, Elfie started from her seat, gave Susie a

violent blow on her back, and rushed downstairs and out
into the street.

As soon as Susie could recover from the blow, she ran

out of the room calling, "Elfie! Elfie!" But Elfie was half-way
up the lane by that time, and did not hear the call; and if
she had, she would probably have run away the faster.
When Susie went back she looked at the money that still lay
on the table, wondering what could have made Elfie so
cross. She could not understand this sudden change in her
behaviour at all; she had always been so kind to her before,
and it seemed hard to believe that it was Elfie who had
struck her now.

After watching the fire for a minute or two, she washed

her hands and sat down to work again, feeling very sad and
uncomfortable, and wondering when Elfie would come back.
Then she wondered whether she had had anything to eat
to-day; she herself was hungry, and yet she had eaten a
slice of bread, and had not been running about the streets
as Elfie had.

"Oh, that has made her cross. She was so hungry, and
yet she would not spend any money till she had brought it
home, and then it was too late for the landlord. Poor Elfie!
But never mind, we'll have a nice, real tea to-day." And as
she spoke, Susie put on the tea-kettle, and then went out
to buy the things for the real tea.

Just as it was getting dusk she got the tea ready, and
then sat down to wait for Elfie's coming. But an hour passed
and no one came; and then, feeling faint and almost sick
with hunger, she took her tea by herself, feeling sadly
disappointed that Elfie had not come home.

Elfie did not make her appearance until bed-time, and

then she crept in, looking as cross and sullen as when she
went out. Susie had forgotten her unkindness of the
afternoon, and jumped up at once to meet her.

"O Elfie, why didn't you come before?" she said. "I got
such a nice tea ready for you. But never mind; I've kept the
teapot on the hob, so it's hot now, I daresay;" and she went
to pour it out.

"I don't want any tea," said Elfie. "Where's the money I
left on the table?"

"Did you want it? O Elfie, I've spent it," said Susie in
dismay.

"Oh, it don't matter," said Elfie carelessly, beginning to

take off some of her clothes, ready to go to bed.

"Won't you have some tea? Oh, do, Elfie," said Susie.
"I'm sure you must be hungry. See, I've cut some bread for
you, all ready."

But Elfie shook her head. "I don't want it," she said;
"I'm not hungry." And in spite of all Susie's coaxing, she
went to bed without touching a bit.

Susie had a great mind to cry. She felt so vexed; and

she thought Elfie was cross now because she had spent the
sixpence. She could not work any longer; so, putting out
the candle, she undressed and crept into bed beside Elfie,
who pretended to be fast asleep.

Susie found out, at last, that she was awake, and

creeping closer to her she said, "I'm so sorry I spent the
sixpence, Elfie; it seems so greedy of me."

"Bother the sixpence! Don't talk about that any more,"

said Elfie crossly.

"What shall we talk about?" said Susie. "I'm not at all

sleepy, and I wanted to talk to you, to tell you how good
'our Father' had been to us to-day," she added in a whisper.
 Elfie flounced herself over, pulling all the bed-clothes off
Susie. "You're always talking about that," she said crossly.

Susie did not know what to say, and she felt so hurt
that she burst into tears.

For a few minutes Elfie lay quite still; but at length she
turned round and put the clothes over Susie's shoulders,
saying, "There, don't cry, Susie. I'm such a wretch. I'll go
away to-morrow."

But Susie's tears only fell the faster. "O Elfie, what have
I done? I'm so sorry I spent the sixpence; but don't go
away to-morrow, and I'll work and get you another." And
she threw her arms round her companion's neck, and kissed
her.

Elfie was crying too now. "I'd better go away, Susie,"

she said. "I'm a bad, wicked girl, and you'd better not love
me any more."

"But I do love you," sobbed Susie. "O Elfie, don't go

away and leave me!"

"But you can't love me now, Susie! I hit you this

afternoon," said Elfie through her tears.

"I made you cross first. O Elfie, I did not think you
wanted that sixpence for anything, and it was greedy of me
to spend it!"

"No, it wasn't," said Elfie; "but don't talk about that any
more. I want to forget all about it."

"Why?" asked Susie. "I like to think how I get my

money, 'specially when somebody's kind, like the landlord
was to-day. Don't you think it was God put it into his heart
to give me fourpence, and not be cross about the rent?"

"I suppose it was," assented Elfie; "but I don't want to

think about God any more, so don't talk about him."

"Don't want to think about God!" repeated Susie. "O

Elfie, and you'd begun to say 'our Father,' and liked to hear
me talk about the Lord Jesus being a poor man."

"Well, I don't want to hear any more about him; and I

shan't say 'our Father' any more. He ain't my Father now,"
said Elfie doggedly.

"Why not? O Elfie! And he's been so good to us to-day,"

said Susie.

"Yes, I suppose he is good; and he makes me feel bad,

and I never did feel so till to-day, so I'm going to forget
him."

"O Elfie! And make him feel so sad and sorry about
you," said Susie.

"Now, don't talk like that, or else I shall cry," said Elfie
with a stifled sob. "I don't want you to love me now."

"But I can't help loving you—I will love you," said Susie
passionately.

And instead of pushing her away, Elfie returned her

caresses, and the two girls cried for some time, without
speaking a word to each other.

At length Elfie said, "It makes me glad and sorry too,

Susie."
 "What does?" asked Susie.

"That you love me so. I didn't think you would after I hit
you this afternoon. I'm so sorry I did it."

"Oh, never mind; I know you didn't mean to hurt me,"

said Susie cheerfully. "I know you loved me all the time."

"Yes, I do love you, Susie; but somehow I wish you

didn't love me now," said Elfie with a deep sigh.

"Why?" asked Susie, in a tone of surprise.

"Because it ain't no good loving me; I'm bad. I didn't

know I was till to-day; but I am, and you'd better not love
me any more. God don't, I know," said Elfie.

"Yes, he does," said Susie quickly. "He loves you, Elfie,

more than I can. He is—"

"There, hold your tongue. I don't want to hear about

him," interrupted Elfie.

Susie was puzzled, but remained silent for a minute or

two, and then asked—"Where have you been to-day, Elfie?"

"Oh, lots of places," she answered shortly. "But don't

ask about that; tell me what you've been doing."

"Working, to be sure," answered Susie. There was

nothing to tell beyond this. Her life was summed up in these
words, for there was no change in it, save the weekly walk
to take her work home.

Elfie's, on the contrary, was full of change, amid all its

sameness in wandering; for there was constantly something
happening, either in the streets or the market; and
wherever a crowd collected, Elfie was sure to be; and from
the remarks of the bystanders, she learned all that had
happened, and was delighted to tell Susie when she
returned home, so that her unwillingness to speak of this
now was the more remarkable.

There seemed nothing they could talk about after Susie

had given an account of the landlord's visit, and so they
soon dropped asleep—Susie hoping that Ellie would tell her
all about the sixpence the next day, and Elfie wishing Susie
would soon forget all about it.

A fresh disappointment as the next morning. She had

resolved to get up early, and prepare a "real breakfast,"
that Elfie might have some before she went out. But Elfie
woke first, and went off without waking her, or taking any of
the bread that had been cut the night before; and, contrary
to her usual practice, she stayed out the whole of the day.

CHAPTER V.
SAVED BY LOVE.

SUSIE could not understand the alteration in Elfie, but

altered she certainly was. Sometimes she would stay away
for two or three days together, and then come home and be
as affectionate as ever, and give Susie all the money she
had been able to get; but she would never tell her how she
got it or where she had been. Then, after staying about in
the same neighbourhood, she would go off no one knew
where, leaving Susie to lie listening for her to come home at
night, and to feel very dull and lonely by herself.

Poor Susie had other anxieties to trouble her, too,

besides those she suffered on Elfie's account. Work was
becoming scarce; and soon after the winter set in, she was
told she had better look out for something else to do, as
they could not give her the sewing much longer.

"What shall I do—what can I do?" said Susie, when she

told Elfie of this.

"I must get some more money," said Elfie. "I daresay I
can get enough for both of us, and then you need not do
this work."

"But can't I help you?" asked Susie. "I shouldn't like you
to do everything."

"You can't help me get money," said Elfie evasively.

"Oh, I won't mind going into the market with you, if

you'll ask the men to let me mind the baskets as well as
you," said Susie.

Elfie laughed. "You couldn't," she said.

"Oh yes, I could—I would," added Susie. "I'd do

anything to earn some money."

"Could you fight the boys if they came to take the

things?" asked Elfie.

Susie shook her head, and looked greatly disappointed.

"Oh, what can I do?" she said. "This is the last lot of shirts I
shall have to make, and I must do something to earn some
money."
 Elfie thought for a minute or two of all the means she
had tried to earn money, but there was only one in which
Susie was likely to succeed.

"You might clean doorsteps," she said slowly.

"Oh yes; mother taught me how to clean the hearth and

scrub the floor," said Susie quickly.

"Can you clean knives and forks as well?" asked Elfie.

Susie nodded. "I know how to do all sorts of cleaning,"

she said.

"I don't," said Elfie; "I can just clean steps. And so
when the people asked me to clean the knives and forks,
and I couldn't, they wouldn't let me do the steps. But if you
can do all sorts of work, you can soon get some. I'll show
you how to manage."

Elfie kept her word. As soon as the last bundle of shirts

was carried home, and before the money was expended,
the two girls went out together in search of some
employment for Susie.

A short distance from Fisher's Lane there was a

respectable neighbourhood, where the people seemed to
pride themselves on the neatness of their doorsteps, but
where very few could afford to keep servants to clean them.
Here Elfie had often earned a few pence, and might have
gained more, if she could have done more than clean the
steps. For occasionally she had been asked to clean knives
and forks, and windows. There she brought Susie, and
boldly knocked at a door, asking if they wanted the steps
cleaned.
 "Not to-day," answered the woman; "and besides, the
girl who cleans my steps must do the knives and forks as
well."

"She can clean knives and all sorts of things," said Elfie,
pushing Susie forward.

The woman looked at her. "Have you learned to scrub?"

she asked.

"Yes, ma'am," answered Susie quietly.

"Well, then, you may come to me to-morrow and I'll

give you something to do."

Susie was delighted, and Elfie looked pleased. "You'll be

sure to get on now," she said complacently.

"Do you clean all these steps?" asked Susie, looking

down the neat quiet street.

Elfie laughed. "I don't clean steps now, I tell you," she
said, rather sharply.

"Why not?" asked Susie; "Do you get so many baskets

to mind now?" she asked.

"I don't mind baskets either," said Elfie fiercely. "I'm

just street rubbish—just what people said I was long ago;
and I don't care a bit. No, I don't care; and I won't care,"
she added, "though you do talk about that school, and try
to coax me to go with you."

Susie looked at her angry face in silent surprise. What

could have provoked this outbreak she could not tell, for
she had not ventured to mention the Ragged School to her
for some weeks past, although she had not given up all
hope of persuading her to go with her.

"Elfie, what's the matter—what do you mean?" she

asked.

Elfie looked somewhat subdued. "Why, you're not to

bother me about what I do to get the money," she said,
rather more quietly. "I cleaned steps as long as I could, but
I never had anybody to teach me to do things like you had;
and then the people in the market called me a thief, and I
couldn't get the baskets to mind."

"Never mind, Elfie; I know you ain't a thief, and I love

you," said Susie, in a gentle, soothing voice.

But Elfie shrunk away from the proffered caress. "I'm

bad, I tell you, and don't want you to love me."

"Oh, but I will love you, even if you are bad," said Susie
with a smile.

The altercation ended, as usual, in both girls promising

they would never leave each other; but a feeling of
uneasiness was left in Susie's mind, and she could not get
rid of the wish to know more about the way in which Elfie
spent her time now. She loved her companion very dearly,
in spite of her strange behaviour sometimes, and she
wished Elfie would tell her how she got the money she
brought home. It was often silver now, as well as pence;
but the possession of it never seemed to give her any
pleasure, and she was sure to be fierce and angry if she
asked where it came from, and would refuse to eat anything
that was bought with it!

This was very puzzling to Susie, and the more she

thought about it, the more unhappy did she become. And
yet she was afraid to tell Elfie of her unhappiness, for fear
she should put her oft repeated threat into execution, and
never come home any more.

She was earning a little money still herself, but she

could not depend upon earning a regular amount as when
she did the sewing; for people did not want their steps
cleaned every day. She managed to give satisfaction in this
new work, and the first to employ her, recommended her to
several neighbours; but it was only one or two days a week
that she was wanted, and the rest of her time passed very
slowly if Elfie did not come home all day.

One morning Susie thought she would walk a little

further, and venture to inquire in another direction if a girl
was wanted to do house work. She had heard that girls
sometimes could get a place to go to every morning, and
have part of their meals each day. Now, if she could do this
it would be so much pleasanter, and she would not mind
how hard she had to work; and she made up her mind to
inquire for such a place as this before she left home.

Which way to turn she did not know, and she stood at
the top of Fisher's Lane looking up and down the road
debating this point, until at length she lifted her heart in
silent prayer to God to guide her aright. Then she walked
cheerfully on down the road for some distance, until she
came to some quiet side streets, and at the corner of one of
these, she went into a grocer shop, and asked if they knew
any one who wanted a girl.

The man asked her how old she was, and what work
she could do; and then told her his wife wanted some one
to help her with the work in the morning, and asked her to
step into the back parlour and speak to her. Susie's heart
beat high with hope as she went into the room, while the
grocer called his wife. Surely God had directed her steps,
that she should hear of what she wanted so soon!

The grocer's wife asked Susie a good many questions,

but seemed to be satisfied with her answers. She could not,
however, quite decide about taking her, she said; she must
talk to her husband first: she did not know what he would
say about taking her without a character, and from such a
bad place as Fisher's Lane, too, and so she must come
again the next morning.

Susie promised to do so, hoping the answer would be

favourable, for she thought she should be very comfortable
working under such a kind mistress; and then the wages
offered—eighteen-pence a week and her breakfast and
dinner—seemed to promise almost riches. Her heart was
light although it trembled with anxious expectation as she
went through the shop again.

Just as she reached the street she noticed there was a

little commotion lower down—a group of boys and girls, and
a policeman half dragging, half carrying somebody along.
Susie's heart almost stood still as she caught sight of the
little ragged culprit, and she could only totter forward a few
steps past the grocer, who had stepped out on to the
pavement, when she became sure it was Elfie in the
policeman's hands! "O Elfie, Elfie I what is it; what is the
matter?" said Susie, darting forward.

At the sound of her voice Elfie ceased her struggles. "Go

away, Susie," she muttered hoarsely, staring at her wildly.

"No, no, I can't go away," said Susie, trying to catch

hold of her frock. "Tell me what it is, Elfie."

"No need to ask what it is," laughed two or three boys:

"she's a regular little thief, she is; but she's caught at last,
and serve her right."

Elfie looked defiant, and renewed her kicking and

struggling; but Susie burst into tears. "Oh, don't take her
away," she sobbed, appealing to the policeman; "oh, please
let her come home with me, and she'll never do it any
more."

"Home with you!" said the man roughly. "Then you're

one of the Fisher Lane thieves too, I suppose?"

Susie's pale face flushed and a look of shame stole over

it; but still she did not attempt to leave Elfie's side,
although she knew all that crowd of boys and girls were
staring at her and calling her a thief as well as Elfie.

"Why don't you go away, Susie? I don't want you; I

never want to see you any more," said Elfie, in a hard,
defiant tone.

But Susie did not go away. They had got into the broad
open road now, and everybody turned to look at them—
looks that seemed to crush poor Susie and make her heart
almost stand still with horror and anguish; but still she kept
on walking in the centre of the little crowd.

"If Elfie has been stealing, you must take me up too,"

she said to the policeman, "for I had part of the money."

"I daresay you did. There's a nice lot of thieves round in

Fisher's Lane, I know," said the man.

And as the gates of the police station were reached, he

took good care that they should close on Susie too.

She had no wish to escape, although she trembled as

they entered a room where another man asked their names
and where they lived.

While this was being done, the policeman who had

brought them, whispered to one of the others, and then
they were taken to a dark room and locked up. Elfie
screamed with terror as the door closed, and they were left
standing there in the cold, dark room, with only the rift of
daylight that struggled through the grating high up in the
wall. Susie shuddered, but she was not so frightened as
Elfie, who fell sobbing on her neck.

Susie clasped her arms round her. "What is it, Elfie?

What have you done?" asked Susie in a whisper.

"Just what they said. I've done it many a time," sobbed

Elfie; "but I didn't do it to-day, for I saw somebody coming,
and put the boots down."

"O Elfie! You've been stealing," said Susie sadly.

Elfie tried to twist herself away from Susie. "Why don't

you say you hate me? I know you do," she said.

"No, I don't, Elfie, or else I shouldn't have come to

prison with you," said Susie, holding her more tightly in her
arms.

Elfie yielded to the loving embrace and sobbed again.

"That's the worst of it," she said. "I shouldn't care so much
for what the policemen could do to me, if you didn't know
about it."

"But God would know, if I did not," said Susie, in a

gentle whisper.

Elfie shuddered. "Does God know everything?" she said.

 "Yes; everything we say and do," answered Susie. "He
knows how many times you stole things, although you may
forget."

"Well, I don't care," said Elfie defiantly. "He don't love

me."

"O Elfie, he does; and it makes him sorry, and angry

too, when we do anything that is wrong;" and Susie burst
into tears.

"Don't cry, don't cry, Susie, and I'll never do it any

more. I'll try and get some honest work, though it is so
hard," said Elfie, and her tears broke out afresh. The two
sat down together on the hard, cold floor, and with their
arms round each other's necks, Elfie promised never to
steal again, if Susie would leave off crying and love her still.
"I will try to be honest, and mind the baskets, and clean
steps," she sobbed. "But they called me a thief when I
wasn't; and then when we wanted that twopence for the
rent, and I couldn't get it any other way, I thought I'd steal
it, only you shouldn't know."

"O Elfie, did you steal that sixpence?" asked Susie.

Elfie sobbed. "I stole some things and sold 'em to get
that," she said; "that was the first time since I'd known
you," she added.

"Did you steal before?" asked Susie.

"Yes, sometimes, when I was very hungry. And they

knew it at the Ragged School; that was why I wouldn't go
with you," said Elfie, who seemed determined to make a full
confession now.

"What did you steal?" asked Susie.

 "All sorts of things—anything I could see in shops and
run away with. I never felt bad about it before; but when I
took the things to get that sixpence for the rent, I felt I was
wicked, and God seemed to be looking at me all the time,
though I wanted to forget all about him."

"Yes, God was looking at you," said Susie; "and he was

sorry about you too—more sorry than I can be, because he
loves you more than I do."

"More than you do!" repeated Elfie. "He can't, for you've
come to prison with me, though all the people were looking
at you and calling you a thief."

"Yes, he has," said Susie. "Don't you remember I told

you about the Lord Jesus being God as well as man? Well,
he came down from heaven to die for our sins—to save us
just because we had all been doing such wicked things as
stealing, and telling lies, and forgetting him. But to do this
he had to suffer a dreadful, cruel death. And he wasn't
compelled to do it either, for he did not deserve it; it was us
who deserved it, but he loved us so much that he took our
punishment instead."

"But he won't love me now," said Elfie. "It's no good

telling me about this now."

"Yes, it is. Elfie, if you will only ask him to help you to
be honest in future," said Susie.

"But I've been stealing—I've done such lots of bad

things," said Elfie.

"But Jesus will forgive them all, if you ask him," said
Susie quickly. "He loves you still, Elfie; though you've been
trying to forget him, he hasn't forgot you. He wants you to
believe in his love and love him too."
 "O Susie, are you sure about it? Are you sure Jesus will
love me as much as you do?" asked Elfie.

"He loves you a great deal more than I do. That's why
God wishes us to love each other, that we may understand
his love," said Susie. "Mother used to say we could never
understand God's love, if it wasn't for having father and
mother or brothers and sisters to love us."

"I never had a father and mother to love me," said Elfie.
"I never had anybody but you, Susie."

"Never mind; I'll be your sister, and love you," said

Susie.

"And then, perhaps, by-and-by I shall understand about

God's love," whispered Elfie, as she laid her head Susie's
shoulder.

CHAPTER VI.
WILL SHE CONQUER?

AFTER Elfie and Susie had been kept some hours in the
dull, gloomy prison cell, a policeman came and took them
into another part of the building, where a magistrate was
sitting, and the policeman stated why Elfie had been taken
up. He had not seen her take the boots himself, however,
and the man to whom they belonged said he did not wish to
send the child to prison; and so the magistrate, warning her