was my last, and I found that they had been
looking forward to it with genuine pain. As will have been seen, their
custom was to wander into my room one by one, but this time they came
together. They had met in the boudoir, and came up the stair so quietly
that I did not hear them. They all looked very subdued, and Marriot took
the cane chair so softly that it did not creak. I noticed that after
a furtive glance at me each of them looked at the centre-table, on
which lay my brier, Romulus and Remus, three other pipes that all had
their merits, though they never touched my heart until now, my clay
tobacco-jar, and my old pouch. I had said good-by to these before my
friends came in, and I could now speak with a comparatively firm voice.
Marriot and Gilray and Scrymgeour signed to Jimmy, as if some plan of
action had been arranged, and Jimmy said huskily, sitting upon the
hearth-rug:

"Pettigrew isn't coming. He was afraid he would break down."

[Illustration]

Then we began to smoke. It was as yet too early in the night for my last
pipe, but soon I regretted that I had not arranged to spend this night
alone. Jimmy was the only one of the Arcadians who had been at school
with me, and he was full of reminiscences which he addressed to the
others just as if I were not present.

"He was the life of the old school," Jimmy said, referring to me, "and
when I shut my eyes I can hear his merry laugh as if we were both in
knickerbockers still."

"What sort of character did he have among the fellows?" Gilray
whispered.

"The very best. He was the soul of honor, and we all anticipated a great
future for him. Even the masters loved him; indeed, I question if he had
an enemy."

"I remember my first meeting with him at the university," said Marriot,
"and that I took to him at once. He was speaking at the debating society
that night, and his enthusiasm quite carried me away."

"And how we shall miss him here," said Scrymgeour, "and in my
house-boat! I think I had better sell the house-boat. Do you remember
his favorite seat at the door of the saloon?"

"Do you know," said Marriot, looking a little scared, "I thought I would
be the first of our lot to go. Often I have kept him up late in this
very room talking of my own troubles, and little guessing why he
sometimes treated them a little testily."

So they talked, meaning very well, and by and by it struck one o'clock.
A cold shiver passed through me, and Marriot jumped from