, broke in upon his studies.

"Will you please to send up your name, sir?" said Ruth, in no very
gentle tones; "Mr. Hurdlestone is busy."

"No. I told you before that I would announce myself."

Anthony instantly recognised the voice, and before he could lay aside
the book, Godfrey Hurdlestone stood before him.

How changed--how dreadfully changed he was, since they last met. The
wicked career of a few months had stamped and furrowed his brow with the
lines of years. His dress was mean and faded. He looked dirty and
slovenly, and little of his former manly beauty and elegance of person
remained. So utterly degraded was his appearance, that a cry of surprise
broke from Anthony's lips, so inexpressibly shocked was he at an
alteration so startling.

"I suppose you know me, Anthony," said Godfrey, with a sarcastic smile;
"I can't be so changed as all that?"

"You are greatly changed."

"For the worse, of course. Yes, poverty soon brings a man down who has
never been used to work. It has brought me down--down to the very dust."

"I am sorry to hear you say so. I thought that you were comfortably
settled with the Whitmores until you could procure a tutorship. With
your education and abilities, Godfrey, you should not appear thus."

"I left the Whitmores a long time ago. I thought you had heard that
piece of ill news, for such stories travel apace. You must know that, as
ill-luck would have it, Juliet learned from Mary all the particulars of
that unfortunate business, and I, of course, had to decamp. Since then
the world has gone all wrong with me, and one misfortune has followed
upon another, until I stand before you a lost and ruined man; and if
you, Anthony, refuse to assist me, I must go headlong to destruction."

In spite of all his affected boldness, it was evident that the speaker
was dreadfully agitated. His eyes were wild and bloodshot, his fine
features swollen and distorted, and his face as pale as ashes.

Anthony continued to gaze upon him with eyes full of pity and
astonishment, and cheeks yet paler than his own. Could it be Algernon
Hurdlestone's son that stood before him--that cousin whom he had sworn
to love and cherish as a brother, and to help to the uttermost in time
of need? The solemn vow he had taken when a boy was the uppermost
thought that moment in his mind; and his eyes slowly filled with tears
as turning to Godfrey he said, "If I can help you I will do so to the
utmost of my power. Like yo