ed with mingled exclamations of surprise and delight--"and so, you
see, we've not only got to tell Lawless that he is refused, poor fellow
I but that Fanny has accepted Oaklands; very awkward, isn't it?"

"It would be with anybody else," replied Coleman; "but I think there
are ways and means of managing the thing which will prevent any very
desperate consequences in the present instance; sundry ideas occur to
me; would you mind my being in the room when you tell him?"

"As far as I am concerned, I should be only too glad to have you,"
returned I, "if you do not think it would annoy him."

"I'm not afraid of that," was the rejoinder; "as I wrote the offer
for him, it strikes me I'm the very person he ought to select for his
confidant."

"Do you think," he added, after a moment's thought, "Harry would sell
those phaeton horses?"

"That's the line of argument you intend to bring forward by way of
consolation, is it? Well, it is not such a bad notion," replied I; "but
don't be too sure of success, '_Equo ne credite Tueri_': I doubt its
being in the power ~382~~ of horse-flesh to carry such a weight of
disappointment as I fear this news will occasion him."

"Well, I've other schemes to fall back upon if this should fail,"
returned Freddy; "and now let us get on, for the sooner we put him out
of his misery the better."

"Where's the master?" inquired I, encountering Shrimp as we crossed the
hall.

"He's upstairs, sir; in his own room, sir; a-going it like bricks, if
you please, sir; you can hear him down here, Gents."

"Stop a minute--listen!" said Coleman; "I can hear him now."

As he spoke, the sound of some one running quickly in the room overhead
was distinctly audible; then came a scuffling noise, and then a heavyish
fall.

"What's he doing?" asked Coleman.

"He's a-trainin' of hisself for some match as must be a-coming off, sir;
leastways so I take it; he's been a-going on like that for the last hour
and a quarter, and wery well he's lasted out, I say; he'll be safe to
win, don't you think, Gents?"

"Out of the way, you imp!" exclaimed Coleman, seizing Shrimp by the
collar, and swinging him half across the hall, where, cat-like, he fell
upon his legs, and walked off, looking deeply insulted.

"I can't make out what he can be doing," continued Freddy. "Come along!"
so saying, he sprang up the staircase, two steps at a time, an example
which I hastened to imitate.

"Come in!" cried the voice of Lawless,