ore him. He had never, in his relations
with Allan, so entirely forgotten his business interests as he forgot
them now.

"You are quite right, sir, to stop here; London's the place to divert
your mind," said Pedgift, cheerfully. "All business is more or less
elastic in its nature, Mr. Armadale; I'll spin _my_ business out, and
keep you company with the greatest pleasure. We are both of us on the
right side of thirty, sir; let's enjoy ourselves. What do you say to
dining early, and going to the play, and trying the Great Exhibition
in Hyde Park to-morrow morning, after breakfast? If we only live like
fighting-cocks, and go in perpetually for public amusements, we shall
arrive in no time at the _mens sana in corpore sano_ of the ancients.
Don't be alarmed at the quotation, sir. I dabble a little in Latin after
business hours, and enlarge my sympathies by occasional perusal of the
Pagan writers, assisted by a crib. William, dinner at five; and, as it's
particularly important to-day, I'll see the cook myself."

The evening passed; the next day passed; Thursday morning came, and
brought with it a letter for Allan. The direction was in Mrs. Milroy's
handwriting; and the form of address adopted in the letter warned Allan,
the moment he opened it, that something had gone wrong.

["Private."]

"The Cottage, Thorpe Ambrose, Wednesday.

"SIR--I have just received your mysterious letter. It has more than
surprised, it has really alarmed me. After having made the friendliest
advances to you on my side, I find myself suddenly shut out from
your confidence in the most unintelligible, and, I must add, the most
discourteous manner. It is quite impossible that I can allow the matter
to rest where you have left it. The only conclusion I can draw from your
letter is that my confidence must have been abused in some way, and that
you know a great deal more than you are willing to tell me. Speaking in
the interest of my daughter's welfare, I request that you will inform
me what the circumstances are which have prevented your seeing Mrs.
Mandeville, and which have led to the withdrawal of the assistance that
you unconditionally promised me in your letter of Monday last.

"In my state of health, I cannot involve myself in a lengthened
correspondence. I must endeavor to anticipate any objections you may
make, and I must say all that I have to say in my present letter. In the
event (which I am most unwilling to consider possible) of your