nowledge would seem to require both time and study."

"They have but a smattering," said I; "yet it is gained exactly in
the very school where such small proficiency goes farthest,--'
the world'--and which you will one day discover has its sources of
knowledge, its tests of ability, ay, and its degrees of honor, marked
out as palpably as Oxford and Cambridge. There is this advantage, too,
sir, over the university,--the track in which you are to travel
is marked out for you; you must not stray to the right or to the
left,--while in 'the world' the field of direction is wide, open, and
expanded; there's a path for every one, if they 'll only look for it."

He started as I said these words; and as his cheeks flushed up, he
said, "I remember once upon a time hearing those very words from a poor
friendless boy in my own country. He was setting out, as he said, to
seek his fortune, and his whole stock in life was the hope inspired by
that sentiment."

"And what became of him?"

"I never could learn. He disappeared suddenly; and whether he enlisted
into some regiment abroad, or died at home, I never ascertained."

"Then I can tell you, sir,--he now stands before you, the same whom
once you so kindly succored! the houseless, friendless child whom you
protected and sheltered. I am Con Cregan."

It would be difficult to describe the bewilderment of poor Lyndsay as I
said this; he sat down, closed his eyes, opened them again, rubbed them,
stared at me, tried to speak, and at last, rising up, grasped my hand
warmly, and cried, "Then, of course, you remember _my_ name?"

"I could never forget it, Mr. Lyndsay," said I, affectionately.

This was enough, and he now shook me by both hands with all the warmth
of old friendship.

As he was madly eager to learn the story of my life, and as I was bent
on my departure by the morning mail for Genoa, we agreed to meet at an
hour when the household had retired to bed; meanwhile, he was to charge
himself with the office of making an explanation to the family, and
informing them that matters of urgency required my presence at Paris
without delay. This agreed upon, we separated.

The entire night we passed in talking, for he insisted upon hearing my
adventures from the very hour we had parted company in Dublin, down to
the moment we were then seated together. It was evident, at times, from
the tone of questioning, that he accepted several of my statements at
least as doubtful; but gradu