od sense prevailed with him. At the
ticket-barrier there was a parting.

"How delightful it would be, Miss Fisher," said Mr. O'Gree, in
something like a whisper, "if this lucky chance happened again. If I
only knew when you were coming again, there's no telling but it might."

Sally gave her hand, smiled, evidently wished to say something, but
ended by turning away and running after her companions.

CHAPTER XVI

EXAMPLE WITHOUT PRECEPT

Waymark was grateful for the help Mr. Woodstock had given him. Indeed,
the two soon began to get on very well together. In a great measure, of
course, this was due to the change in Waymark's philosophy; whereas his
early idealism had been revolted by what he then deemed Mr. Woodstock's
crass materialism and vulgarity, the tolerance which had come with
widened experience now made him regard these characteristics with far
less certainty of condemnation. He was often merely amused at what had
formerly enraged and disgusted him. At the same time, there were
changes in Abraham himself, no doubt--at all events in his manner to
the young man. He, on his side, was also far more tolerant than in the
days when he had growled at Osmond for a conceited young puppy.

One Sunday morning in early July, Waymark was sitting alone in his
room, when he noticed that a cab stopped before the house. A minute
after, there was a knock at his door, and, to his great surprise, Mr.
Woodstock entered, bearing a huge volume in his arms. Abraham deposited
it on a chair, wiped his forehead, and looked round the room.

"You smoke poor tobacco," was his first remark, as he sniffed the air.

"Good tobacco happens to be expensive," was the reply. "Will you sit
down?"

"Yes, I will." The chair creaked under him. "And so here you hang out,
eh? Only one room?"

"As you see."

"Devilish unhealthy, I should think."

"But economical."

"Ugh!"

The grunt meant nothing in particular. Waymark was eyeing the mighty
volume on the chair, and had recognised it Some fortnight previously,
he had come upon Abraham, in the latter's study, turning over a
collection of Hogarth's plates, and greatly amusing himself with the
realism which so distinctly appealed to his taste in art. The book had
been pledged in the shop, and by lapse of time was become Abraham's
property. It was the first time that Waymark had had an opportunity of
examining Hogarth; the pictures harmonised with his mood; they gave him
a fresh impuls