. I wish it were otherwise. I can say no
more." Then Ralph took his leave, and wandered all round St. James's
Park and the purlieus of Westminster till midnight, endeavouring to
make up his mind, and building castles in the air, as to what he
would do with himself, and how he would act, if he had not brought
himself into so hopeless a mess of troubles.

CHAPTER IX.

ONTARIO MOGGS.

On the following morning Ralph Newton was in Conduit Street exactly
at the hour named. He had not even then made up his mind;--but he
thought that he might get an extension of the time allowed him for
decision. After all, it was hardly a month yet since the proposition
was made to him. He found Mr. Neefit in the back shop, measuring a
customer. "I'll be with you in two minutes," said Mr. Neefit, just
putting his head through the open door, and then going back to his
work; "3--1--1/8, Waddle; Sir George isn't quite as stout as he was
last year. Oh, no, Sir George; we won't tie you in too tight. Leave
it to us, Sir George. The last pair too tight? Oh, no; I think not,
Sir George. Perhaps your man isn't as careful in cleaning as he ought
to be. Gentlemen's servants do get so careless, it quite sickens
one!" So Mr. Neefit went on, and as Sir George was very copious in
the instructions which he had to give,--all of which, by-the-bye,
were absolutely thrown away,--Ralph Newton became tired of waiting.
He remembered too that he was not there as a customer, but almost
as a member of the family, and the idea sickened him. He bethought
himself that on his first visit to Conduit Street he had seen his
Polly in the shop, cutting up strips wherewith her father would
measure gentlemen's legs. She must then have been nearly fifteen, and
the occupation, as he felt, was not one fitting for the girl who was
to be his wife. "Now, Mr. Newton," said Mr. Neefit, as Sir George at
last left the little room. The day was hot, and Mr. Neefit had been
at work in his shirt sleeves. Nor did he now put on his coat. He
wiped his brow, put his cotton handkerchief inside his braces, and
shook hands with our hero. "Well, Mr. Newton," he said, "what do you
think of it? I couldn't learn much about it, but it seemed to me that
you and Polly got on famous that night. I thought we'd have seen you
out there again before this."

"I couldn't come, Mr. Neefit, as long as there was a doubt."

"Oh, as to doubts,--doubts be bothered. Of course you must run your
chance with