I'm a good deal run down, and these disappointments have almost
floored me. To tell you the truth, the vegetarian diet won't do. I feel
as weak as a cat. If you knew the heroism it has cost me, down at the
seaside, to refrain from chops and steaks. Now I give it up. Another
month of cabbage and lentils and I should be sunk beyond recovery. I
give it up. This very night I shall go and have a supper, a real
supper, in town. Will you come with me, old man? What's before me, I
don't know. I have half a mind to go to Canada as farm labourer; it
would be just the thing for my health; but let us go and have one more
supper together, as in the old days. Where shall it be?"

So they went into town, and supped royally, with the result that
Warburton had to see his friend home. Over the second bottle, Godfrey
decided for an agricultural life in the Far West, and Will promised to
speak for him to a friend of his, a lady who had brothers farming in
British Columbia; but, before he went, he must be assured that
Warburton really forgave him the loss of that money. Will protested
that he had forgotten all about it; if any pardon were needed, he
granted it with all his heart. And so with affectionate cordiality they
bade each other good-night.

To his surprise, he received a letter from Sherwood, a day or two
after, seriously returning to the British Columbia project, and
reminding him of his promise. So, on Sunday, Will called for the first
time without invitation at Mrs. Cross', and, being received with no
less friendliness than hitherto, began asking news of Bertha's
brothers; whereupon followed talk upon Canadian farming life, and the
mention of Godfrey Sherwood. Bertha undertook to write on the subject
by the next mail; she thought it likely enough that her brothers might
be able to put Mr. Sherwood into the way of earning a living.

"What do you think we did yesterday?" said Mrs. Cross. "We took the
liberty of calling upon Mr. Potts. We had to go and see Mrs. Bolton, at
Holloway, and, as it was so near, we thought we might venture--using
your name as our introduction. And the poor old gentleman was delighted
to see us--wasn't he, Bertha? Oh, and he is so grateful for our
suggestion of the lodgings."

Bertha's smile betrayed a little disquiet. Perceiving this, Warburton
spoke with emphasis.

"It was kind of you. The old man feels a little lonely in that foreign
region; he's hardly been out of Kennington for forty years. A ver