ooked at his watch, it was only half-past one o'clock. He
could scarcely believe what had happened had only occurred that
morning, only seven hours ago. It seemed to him that he had stood face
to face with Angela, not that morning, but years ago, and miles away,
on some desolate shore which lay on the other side of a dead ocean of
pain. And yet it was only seven hours! If the hours went with such
heavy wings, how would the days pass, and the months, and the years?

What should he do with himself? In his condition perpetual activity
was as necessary to him as air, he must do something to dull the sharp
edge of his suffering, or the sword of madness which hung over him by
such a slender thread would fall. Suddenly he bethought him of a man
whom he had known slightly up at Cambridge, a man of wealth and evil
reputation. This man would, he felt, be able to put him in a way of
getting through his time. He knew his address and thither he drove.

Four days later, a figure, shrunk, shaky, and looking prematurely old,
with the glaze of intoxication scarcely faded from his eye, walked
into Mr. Borley's office. That respectable gentleman looked and looked
again.

"Good Heavens," he said at length; "it isn't Arthur Heigham."

"Yes, it is, though," said an unequal voice; "I've come for some
money. I've got none left and I am going to Madeira to-morrow."

"My dear boy, what has happened to you? You look so very strange. I
have been expecting to see your marriage in the paper. Why, it's only
a few days ago that you left to be married."

"A few days, a few years, you mean. I've been jilted, that's all,
nothing to speak of, you know, but I had rather not talk about it, if
you don't mind. I'm like a nag with a flayed back, don't like the
sight of the saddle at present," and poor Arthur, mentally and
physically exhausted, put his head down on his arm and gulped.

The old lawyer took in the situation at a glance.

"Hard hit," he said to himself; "and gone on to the burst," and then
aloud, "well, well, that has happened to many a man, in fact, you
mightn't believe it, but it once happened to me, and I don't look much
the worse, do I? But we won't talk about it. The less said of a bad
business the better, that's my maxim. And so you are going abroad
again. Have you got any friends at Madeira?"

Arthur nodded.

"And you want some more money. Let me see, I sent you 200 pounds last
week."

"That was for my wedding tour. I've sp