ld have
loved her also, must be left to explain itself as the girl's character
shall be developed. But Florence Mountjoy had now for many months been
the cause of bitter dislike against poor Harry in the mind of Augustus
Scarborough. He understood much more clearly than his brother had done
who it was that the girl really preferred. He was ever conscious, too,
of his own superiority,--falsely conscious,--and did feel that if Harry's
character were really known, no girl would in truth prefer him. He
could not quite see Harry with Florence's eyes nor could he see himself
with any other eyes but his own.

Then had come the meeting between Mountjoy and Harry Annesley in the
street, of which he had only such garbled account as Mountjoy himself
had given him within half an hour afterward. From that story, told in
the words of a drunken man,--a man drunk, and bruised, and bloody, who
clearly did not understand in one minute the words spoken in the
last,--Augustus did learn that there had been some great row between his
brother and Harry Annesley. Then Mountjoy had disappeared,--had
disappeared, as the reader will have understood, with his brother's
co-operation,--and Harry had not come forward, when inquiries were made,
to declare what he knew of the occurrences of that night. Augustus had
narrowly watched his conduct, in order at first that he might learn in
what condition his brother had been left in the street, but afterward
with the purpose of ascertaining why it was that Harry had been so
reticent. Then he had allured Harry on to a direct lie, and soon
perceived that he could afterward use the secret for his own purpose.

"I think we shall have to see what that young man's about, you know," he
said afterward to Septimus Jones.

"Yes, yes, certainly," said Septimus. But Septimus did not quite
understand why it was that they should have to see what the young man
was about.

"Between you and me, I think he means to interfere with me, and I do not
mean to stand his interference."

"I should think not."

"He must go back to Buston, among the Bustonians, or he and I will have
a stand-up fight of it. I rather like a stand-up fight."

"Just so. When a fellow's so bumptious as that he ought to be licked."

"He has lied about Mountjoy," said Augustus. Then Jones waited to be
told how it was that Harry had lied. He was aware that there was some
secret unknown to him, and was anxious to be informed. Was Harry aware
of Mount