rew aside his paper, started up, and went out.

What was his surprise to see Cloudesley Mornington standing there, with
a face so haggard, with eyes so wild and despairing, that, in alarm, he
exclaimed:

"Good heaven, Cloudesley. What is the matter? Has anything happened at
home?"

"Home! home! What home? I have no home upon this earth now, and never
shall have!" exclaimed the poor youth, distractedly.

"My dear fellow, never speak so despondently. What is it now? a
difficulty with the commodore?"

"God's judgment light upon him!" cried Cloudy, pushing past and hurrying
up the stairs.

Thurston could not resume his former composure; something in Cloudy's
face had left a feeling of uneasiness in his mind, and the oftener he
recalled the expression the more troubled he became.

Until at length he could bear the anxiety no longer, and quietly leaving
his room, he went up-stairs in search of the youth, and paused before
the boy's door. By the clicking, metallic sounds within, he suspected
him to be engaged in loading a pistol; for what purpose! Not an instant
was to be risked in rapping or questioning.

With one vigorous blow of his heel Thurston burst open the door, and
sprung forward and dashed the fatal weapon from his hand, and then
confronted him, exclaiming:

"Good God, Cloudy! What does this mean?"

Cloudy looked at him wildly for a minute, and when Thurston repeated the
question, he answered with a hollow laugh:

"That I am crazy, I guess! don't you think so?"

"Cloudy, my dear fellow, we have been like brothers all our lives; now
won't you tell me what has brought you to this pass? What troubles you
so much? Perhaps I can aid you in some way. Come, what is it now?"

"And you really don't know what it is? Don't you know that there is a
wedding on hand?"

"A wedding!"

"Aye, man alive! A wedding! They are going to marry the child Jacquelina
to old Grimshaw."

"Oh, yes, I know that; but, my dear boy, what of it? Surely you were
never in love with little Jacko?"

"In love with her! ha! ha! no, not as you understand it! who take it to
be that fantastical passion that may be inspired by the first sight of a
pretty face. No! I am not in love with her, unless I could be in love
with myself. For Lina was my other self. Oh, you who can talk so glibly
of being 'in love,' little know that strength of attachment when two
hearts have grown together from childhood."

"It is like a brother's and a sister's.