ved me too faithfully and too well to be
requited thus. Give me your hand, and say you forgive me."

"Indeed, sir, I must own I scarcely expected--that is, I never
imagined--"

"Come, come, do not do it grudgingly; tell me, frankly, all is
forgiven."

Hankes took the outstretched hand, and muttered some broken,
unintelligible words.

"There, now, sit down and think no more of this folly." He opened a
large pocket-book as he spoke, and searching for some time amongst its
contents, at last took forth a small slip of paper. "Ay, here it is,"
said he: "'Sale of West Indian estates; resident commissionership; two
thousand per annum, with allowance for house,' &c. Sir Hepton Wallis was
to have it. Would this suit you, Hankes? The climate agrees with many
constitutions."

"Oh, as to the climate," said Hankes, trembling with eagerness and
delight, "I 'd not fear it."

"And then with ample leave of absence from time to time, and a retiring
allowance, after six years' service, of--if I remember aright--twelve
hundred a year. What say you? It must be filled up soon. Shall I write
your name instead of Sir Hepton's?"

"Oh, sir, this is, indeed, generosity!"

"No, Hankes, mere justice; nothing more. The only merit I can lay claim
to in the matter is the sacrifice I make in separating myself from a
well-tried and trusted adherent."

"These reports shall be ready immediately, sir," said Hankes. "I 'll not
go to bed to-night--"

"We have ample time for everything, Hankes; don't fatigue yourself, and
be here at twelve to-morrow."

CHAPTER XXIII. ANNESLEY BEECHER IN A NEW PART.

About five weeks have elapsed since we last sojourned with Grog Davis
and his party at the little village of Holbach. Five weeks are a short
period in human life, but often enough has it sufficed to include great
events, and to make marvellous changes in a man's fortunes! Now,
the life they all led here might seem well suited to exclude such
calculations. Nothing seemed less likely to elicit vicissitudes. It was
a calm, tame monotony; each day so precisely like its predecessor that
it was often hard to remember how the week stole on. The same landscape,
with almost the same effects of sun and shadow, stretched daily before
their eyes; the same gushing water foamed and fretted; the same weeds
bent their heads to the flood; the self-same throbbing sounds of busy
mills mingled with the rushing streams; the very clouds, as they dragged
themselve