champagne together, and I intend to celebrate our parting in the same
liquor. Will you liquor with me, old boy?"

She was gay. She revived Sir Julius occasionally. He, dispirited, left
the talking all to her.

Mrs. Mount kept a footman. At a late hour the man of calves dressed the
table for supper. It was a point of honour for Richard to sit down to it
and try to eat. Drinking, thanks to the kindly mother nature, who loves
to see her children made fools of, is always an easier matter.
The footman was diligent; the champagne corks feebly recalled the
file-firing at Richmond.

"We'll drink to what we might have been, Dick," said the enchantress.

Oh, the glorious wreck she looked.

His heart choked as he gulped the buzzing wine.

"What! down, my boy?" she cried. "They shall never see me hoist signals
of distress. We must all die, and the secret of the thing is to die
game, by Jove! Did you ever hear of Laura Fern? a superb girl! handsomer
than your humble servant--if you'll believe it--a 'Miss' in the bargain,
and as a consequence, I suppose, a much greater rake. She was in the
hunting-field. Her horse threw her, and she fell plump on a stake. It
went into her left breast. All the fellows crowded round her, and one
young man, who was in love with her--he sits in the House of Peers
now--we used to call him `Duck' because he was such a dear--he dropped
from his horse to his knees: 'Laura! Laura! my darling! speak a word to
me!--the last!' She turned over all white and bloody! 'I--I shan't be in
at the death!' and gave up the ghost! Wasn't that dying game? Here's to
the example of Laura Fenn! Why, what's the matter? See! it makes a man
turn pale to hear how a woman can die. Fill the glasses, John. Why,
you're as bad!"

"It's give me a turn, my lady," pleaded John, and the man's hand was
unsteady as he poured out the wine.

"You ought not to listen. Go, and, drink some brandy."

John footman went from the room.

"My brave Dick! Richard! what a face you've got!"

He showed a deep frown on a colourless face.

"Can't you bear to hear of blood? You know, it was only one naughty
woman out of the world. The clergyman of the parish didn't refuse to
give her decent burial. We Christians! Hurrah!"

She cheered, and laughed. A lurid splendour glanced about her like
lights from the pit.

"Pledge me, Dick! Drink, and recover yourself. Who minds? We must all
die--the good and the bad. Ashes to ashes--dust to dust--and win