-man was wondering when
his passenger was going to get in, as Vane looked at his watch.

"I say, Dis, old chap," he said, "you'll have to say good-bye if you
mean to catch that train."

"Yes," cried Distin, hoarsely, as he caught his companion's hand. "I
had so much I wanted to say to you, about all I have felt during those
past months, but I can't say it. Yes," he cried passionately, "I must
say this: I always hated you, Vane. I couldn't help it, but you killed
the wretched feeling that day in the wood, and ever since I have fought
with myself in silence, but so hard."

"Oh, I say," cried Vane; "there, there, don't say any more. I've
forgotten all that."

"I must," cried Distin; "I know. I always have felt since that you
cannot like me, and I have been so grateful to you for keeping silence
about that miserable, disgraceful episode in my life--no, no, look me in
the face, Vane."

"I won't. Look in your watch's face," cried Vane, merrily, "and don't
talk any more such stuff, old chap. We quarrelled, say, and it was like
a fight, and we shook hands, and it was all over."

"With you, perhaps, but not with me," said Distin. "I am different.
I'd have given anything to possess your frank, manly nature."

"Oh, I say, spare my blushes, old chap," cried Vane, laughing.

"Be serious a minute, Vane. It may be years before we meet again, but I
must tell you now. You seem to have worked a change in me I can't
understand, and I want you to promise me this--that you will write to
me. I know you can never think of me as a friend, but--"

"Why can't I?" cried Vane, heartily. "I'll show you. Write? I should
think I will, and bore you about all my new weathercock schemes. Dis,
old chap, I'm such a dreamer that I've no time to see what people about
me are like, and I've never seen you for what you really are till now
we're going to say good-bye. I am glad you've talked to me like this."

Something very like a sob rose in Distin's throat as they stood, hand
clasped in hand, but he was saved from breaking down.

"Beg pardon, sir," said the fly driver, "but we shan't never catch that
train."

"Yes; half a sovereign for you, if you get me there," cried Distin,
snatching open the fly, and leaping in; "good-bye, old chap!" he cried
as Vane banged the door and he gripped hands, as the latter ran beside
the fly, "mind and write--soon--good-bye--good-bye."

And Vane stood alone in the dusty road looking after the fly