ht when you
had never seen one of the young ladies before, and the other not
for two years! Well, upon my word, Brown--"

"Now don't blow me up, old fellow, to-night--please don't. There,
I give in. Don't hit a fellow when he's down. I'm so low." Tom
spoke in such a depreciating tone that Hardy's wrath passed away.

"Why, what's the matter?" he said. "You seemed to be full of
talk. I was envying your fluency I know, often."

"Talk! yes so I was. But didn't you see Dick in the Walk? You
have never heard anything more?"

"No! but no news is good news."

"Heigho! I'm awfully down. I want to talk to you. Let me come
up."

"Come along then." And so they disappeared into Hardy's lodgings.

The two young ladies, meanwhile, soothed old Mr. Winter, who had
eaten and drank more than was good for him, and was naturally put
out thereby. They soon managed to persuade him to retire, and
then followed them-selves--first to Mary's room, where that young
lady burst out at once, "What a charming place it is! Oh! didn't
you enjoy your evening, Katie!"

"Yes, but I felt a little awkward without a chaperone. You seemed
to get on very well with my cousin. You scarcely spoke to us in
the Long Walk till just before we came away. What were you
talking about?"

Mary burst into a gay laugh. "All sorts of nonsense," she said.
"I don't think I ever talked so much nonsense in my life. I hope
he isn't shocked. I don't think he is. But I said anything that
came into my head. I couldn't help it. You don't think it wrong?"

"Wrong, dear? No, I'm sure you could say nothing wrong."

"I'm not so sure of that. But, Katie dear, I know there is
something on his mind."

"Why do you think so?"

"Oh, because he stopped short twice, and became quite absent, and
seemed not to hear anything I said."

"How odd! I never knew him do so. Did you see any reason for it?"

"No; unless it was two men we passed in the crowd. One was a
vulgar-looking wretch, who was smoking--a fat black thing, with
such a thick nose, covered with jewelry--"

"Not his nose, dear?"

"No, but his dress; and the other was a homely, dried-up little
man, like one of your Englebourn troubles. I'm sure there is some
mystery about them, and I shall find it out. But how did you like
his friend, Katie?"

"Very much, indeed. I was rather uncomfortable at walking so long
with a stranger. But he was very pleasant, and is so fond of Tom.
I am sure he is a very good friend for him.