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THE SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE.

CHAPTER XXII.

The 'Times' of the following morning announced two more failures of large banking houses, and there were dark hints in the City article about a great capitalist, which were perfectly unintelligible to those who had not been brought up to talk Stock Exchange fluently, but explained by the more learned Willis to allude to Sampson's house. "I fully expect to hear that that fellow has gone off any day, and he will take some of your money with him, Charlie," he said to the little boy, who was sitting on his knee, "I am sorry on your account, but, never mind, we must make the best of it."

The idea of Willis making the best of anything, was so startling, such a very