oesn't she go and tumble its contents about,
just out of curiosity, ten times a day? Not that she'd ever
find a great deal either in or on mine. Neither the
indictments for murder or manslaughter, nor that other
heavier charge for H. T., have left their traces within my
pericardium, and I could stand to back myself not to rave in
a compromising fashion if I had a fever to-morrow. But how
hollow all this boasting, when that girl within the closed
window-shutter yonder defies me--ay, defies me! Is she to
go off to her wedding with the inner consciousness of this
victory? There's the thought that is driving me mad, and
will, I am certain, end by producing some dire mischief--
what the doctors call a lesion--in this unhappy brain of
mine. And now, as I sit here in listless idleness, that
other fellow is hastening across Egypt, or ploughing his way
through the Red Sea, to come and marry her! I ask you, D.,
what amount of philosophy is required to bear up under this?

"I conclude I shall leave this some time next week--not to
come near England, though--for I foresee that it will soon
be out where, how, and with whom I have been spending my
holidays. Fifty fellows must suspect, and some half-dozen
must know all about it America, I take it, must be my
ground--as well there as anywhere else--but I can't endure
a plan, so enough of this. Don't write to me till you hear
again, for I shall leave this certainly, though where for,
not so certain.

"What a deal of trouble and uncertainty that girl might
spare me if she'd only consent to say 'Yes.' If I see her
alone this evening, I half think I shall ask her.

"Farewell for a while, and believe me,

"Yours ever,

"HARRY C.

"P.S. Nine o'clock, evening. Came down to dinner looking
exceedingly pretty, and dressed to perfection. All spite and
malice, I'm certain. Asked me to take her out to sail to-
morrow. We are to go off on an exploring expedition to an
island--'que sais je?'

"The old Grainger looks on me with aunt-like eyes. She has
seen a bracelet of carbuncles in dull gold, the like of
which Loyd could not give her were he to sell justice for
twenty years to come. I have hinted that I mean them for my
mother-in-law whenever I marry, and she understands that the