ce with his handkerchief
and puffing like a man who had just gone through some great exertion.

I did not join in the laughter that followed, and spent the rest of the
day rather uncomfortably. In the evening I left Jack at his desk.

"I hope you don't mind my going," I said. He looked up, half vexed,
half astonished. "What do you mean?" he replied. "Surely it's nothing
to do with me?"

"Oh, I know. But I wouldn't care to do it if you didn't like it.
Besides, I feel rather low going when you're not asked too."

"I shouldn't go if I was asked," replied Jack.

"Why not?" I inquired.

"I've something better to do with my time and my money than that sort of
thing," he replied, quietly.

I went up to Doubleday's that evening more uneasy in my mind than I had
been for a long time. I was angry with him for asking me; I was angry
with myself for going; and I was angry with Smith because I felt his
rebuke was a just one.

"Hullo, young un!" cried my host as I entered his now familiar lodgings;
"all waiting for you. Why, how glum you look! Has the Lantern been
lecturing you? or have you been having a dose of cold eel-pie on the
road? or what? Come on. You know all these fellows. By the way, my
boy, glorious news for you! Don't know what we've all done to deserve
it, upon my honour, but Abel here has knocked out one of his front
teeth, so there'll be no more trouble about spotting him now."

Abel grinned and exhibited the gap in his jaw which had called forth
this song of thankfulness from our host.

"How ever did you do it?" I asked, glad to turn the conversation from
myself.

"Ran against a lamp-post," replied the mutilated Twin.

This simple explanation caused much merriment, for every one chose to
believe that Abel had been intoxicated at the time, and as Abel himself
joined in the laugh, it was easy to see that if that had been the cause
of the accident, neither he nor any one else would be greatly ashamed of
it.

"What would Jack think?" I could not help saying to myself.

Hawkesbury walked over to where I was and shook hands. "I'm glad you've
come," said he, sweetly smiling; "I was afraid you would be prevented."

"No, I'd nothing to prevent me," replied I, colouring up.

"I fancied you would prefer staying with your friend Smith, or that he
might not like you to come."

"Smith is working late at the office to-night," I replied, shortly.

"Now you fellows!" cried Doubleday, "if you want