is
honour and sold himself to the devil."

Howard's face went pale and grave.

"I don't see where the application comes in, Staff," he said. "I don't
see that anything in your case--position, resembles that poor
wretch's."

Stafford rose, his face grim and stern.

"No; and I can't show you, Howard," he said. "Do you think that poor
devil would have bared his breast and shown that 'D' to even his
dearest friend? Good God, man, why do you badger me! Am I to wear the
cap and bells always, do you expect me to be dancing like a clown every
moment of the day? Do I not play my part as well as I can? Who gave you
the right to peer and pry--"

He recovered suddenly from the fit of fury and gripped Howard's arm as
he almost shrank back from the burst of despairing rage.

"Forgive me, old man! I didn't mean to turn and rend you like this. I
know you see there is something wrong. There is. But I can't tell you
or any other man. There are some things that have to be borne in
silence, some marks of the branding-iron, which one dare not show to
even one's dearest friend."

Howard turned aside and began to put on his gloves with great care. His
hand shook and his voice also, slightly, as without raising his head,
he said:

"Sure there's no help for it, Staff?"

"Sure and certain," responded Stafford. "Not even your wit and wisdom
can be of any avail. I won't ask you not to speak of this again; it
isn't necessary; but I will ask you never, by look or sign, to remind
me of what I have just said to you. It escaped me unawares; but I'll
keep a better watch on myself for the future, and not even the
knowledge of your sympathy shall lure another moan out of me." He made
a gesture with his hand and threw his head back as if he were sweeping
something away; and in something like his usual voice he said, with
perfect calmness: "By the way, Maude asked me to tell you not to be
late to-night; to come before the crush arrives. I think she is relying
on you to help her in some way or other."

Howard nodded, and speaking with his usual drawl, said:

"'Awake and call me early, mother.' I will be there in good time. Miss
Falconer does me the great honour of permitting me to flatter myself
that I am sometimes of some slight service to her. I imagine it is
something about the cotillon, concerning which I am absolutely
ignorant, and am therefore capable of offering any amount of advice. I
am a whale at giving advice, and my only consolatio