t on his
chest, or an itch to twiddle everything with his fingers. At any rate, he
was not the bridegroom for whom omens fly abroad. Promising to have all
ready for the lady within an hour, Mrs. Berry fortified him with her
card, curtsied him back to his cab, and floated him off on her smiles.

The remarkable vehicle which had woven this thread of intrigue through
London streets, now proceeded sedately to finish its operations. Ripton
was landed at a hotel in Westminster. Ere he was halfway up the stairs, a
door opened, and his old comrade in adventure rushed down. Richard
allowed no time for salutations. "Have you done it?" was all he asked.
For answer Ripton handed him Mrs. Berry's card. Richard took it, and left
him standing there. Five minutes elapsed, and then Ripton heard the
gracious rustle of feminine garments above. Richard came a little in
advance, leading and half-supporting a figure in a black-silk mantle and
small black straw bonnet; young--that was certain, though she held her
veil so close he could hardly catch the outlines of her face; girlishly
slender, and sweet and simple in appearance. The hush that came with her,
and her soft manner of moving, stirred the silly youth to some of those
ardours that awaken the Knight of Dames in our bosoms. He felt that he
would have given considerable sums for her to lift her veil. He could see
that she was trembling--perhaps weeping. It was the master of her fate
she clung to. They passed him without speaking. As she went by, her head
passively bent, Ripton had a glimpse of noble tresses and a lovely neck;
great golden curls hung loosely behind, pouring from under her bonnet.
She looked a captive borne to the sacrifice. What Ripton, after a sight
of those curls, would have given for her just to lift her veil an instant
and strike him blind with beauty, was, fortunately for his exchequer,
never demanded of him. And he had absolutely been composing speeches as
he came along in the cab! gallant speeches for the lady, and sly
congratulatory ones for his friend, to be delivered as occasion should
serve, that both might know him a man of the world, and be at their ease.
He forgot the smirking immoralities he had revelled in. This was clearly
serious. Ripton did not require to be told that his friend was in love,
and meant that life and death business called marriage, parents and
guardians consenting or not.

Presently Richard returned to him, and said hurriedly, "I want yo