l have to find the rest of my story out for yourself."

"I'm very sorry," said I.

"So you ought to be. When it came to the time, however, Tom's
resolutions failed him. Gus and his friends called as usual that
evening and laughed him to scorn. He dare not quarrel with them, dare
not resist them. He crumpled up the letter in his pocket and never
posted it, and that night returned to his evil ways without a struggle.

"For a week or two, however, he kept up appearances at the hospital; but
it could not last. A misdemeanour more serious than the former one
caused his second expulsion, and this time with an intimation that under
no circumstances would he be readmitted. That was three months ago. He
became desperate, and at the same time the behaviour of Gus altered.
Instead of flattering and humouring him, he became imperious and
spiteful. And still further, he demanded to be repaid the money he had
advanced to Tom. Tom paid what little he could, and borrowed the rest
from Mortimer. He got behindhand with his rent, and his landlady has
given him notice. As usual, everybody to whom he owes money has found
out his altered circumstances, and is down on him. The keeper of the
music-hall, the tailor, the cigar merchant, are among the most urgent."

"And your being here is a result of all this, I see," said I, knowing
the story was at an end, and considering my tongue to be released.

"Find out!" angrily retorted the pin, relapsing into ill-tempered
silence.

I had little enough inclination to revert to the sad topic, and for the
rest of that day gave myself up to sorrow and pity for Tom Drift. One
thing I felt pretty sure of--it would not be long before he came again;
and I was right.

In two days he entered the office, wild and haggard as before, but with
less care to conceal his visit.

This time he laid on the counter the famous lance-wood fishing-rod which
Charlie had given him months ago, and which surely ought to have been a
reminder to him of better times.

He flung it down, and taking the few shillings the pawnbroker advanced
on it, hurried from the shop.

The next time he came some one else was in the shop. A passing flush
came over Tom's face on discovering a witness to his humiliation; but he
transacted his business with an assumed swagger which ill accorded with
his inward misery. For even yet Tom Drift had this much of hope left in
him--that he knew he was fallen, and was miserable at the t