on posterity, he must have
been well satisfied on that evening. Tom passed under the Bar,
and turned into the Temple another man, softened again, and in
his right mind.

"There's always a voice saying the right thing to you somewhere,
if you'll only listen for it," he thought. He took a few turns in
the court to clear his head, and then found Harry East reclining
on a sofa, in full view of the gardens and river, solacing
himself with his accustomed cheroot.

"Oh, here you are," he said, making room on the sofa; "how did it
go off?"

"Well enough. Where have you been?"

"In the City and at the Docks. I've been all over our vessel.
She's a real clipper."

"When do you sail?"

"Not quite certain. I should say in a fortnight, though." East
puffed away for a minute, and then, as Tom said nothing, went on.
"I'm not so sweet on it as the time draws near. There are more of
my chums turning up every day from India at the Rag. And this is
uncommonly pleasant, too, living with you here in the chambers.
You may probably think it odd, but I don't half like getting rid
of you."

"Thanks; but I don't think you will get rid of me."

"How do you mean?"

"I mean that I shall go with you, if my people will let me, and
you will take me."

"W-h-e-w! Anything happened?"

"Yes."

"You've seen her?"

"Yes."

"Well, go on. Don't keep a fellow in suspense. I shall be
introduced, and eat one of the old boy's good dinners, after all,
before I sail."

Tom looked out of window, and found some difficulty in getting
out the words, "No, it's all up."

"You don't mean it?" said East, coming to a sitting position by
Tom's side. "But how do you know? Are you sure? What did she
say?"

"Nothing. I haven't spoken to her; but it's all up. She was
riding with her father and the fellow to whom she's engaged. I
have heard it a dozen times, but never would believe it."

"But, is that all? Riding with her father and another man! Why,
there's nothing in that."

"Yes, but there is though. You should have seen his look. And
they all knew me well enough, but not one of them nodded even."

"Well, there's not much in that after all. It may have been
chance, or you may have fancied it."

"No, one isn't quite such a fool. However, I have no right to
complain, and I won't. I could bear it all well enough if he were
not such a cold-hearted blackguard."

"What, this fellow she was riding with?"

"Yes. He hasn't a heart the size of a pin's