lunches. I always tell them
that official hours ain't their own. I suppose they'll
understand me some day.

But as I was saying to your lordship about George
Roden, there has something come up which I don't quite
understand, which seems to have turned him against me.
Nothing has ever given me so much pleasure as when I
heard of his prospects as to a certain matter--which
your lordship will know what I mean. Nothing could be
more flattering than the way I've wished him joy ever so
many times. So I do also your lordship and her ladyship,
because he is a most respectable young man, though his
station in life isn't so high as some people's. But a
clerk in H. M. S. has always been taken for a gentleman
which I am proud to think is my position as well as his.

But, as I was saying to your lordship, something seems to
have gone against him as to our mutual friendship. He sits
there opposite and won't speak a word to me, except just
to answer a question, and that hardly civil. He is as
sweet as sugar to those fellows who ain't at the same
desk with him as I am,--or I should think it was his
future prospects were making him upsetting. Couldn't
your lordship do something to make things up between us
again,--especially on this festive occasion? I'm sure your
lordship will remember how pleasant we were together at
Castle Hautboy, and at the hunt, and especially as we were
riding home together on that day. I did take the liberty
of calling at Hendon Hall, when her ladyship was kind
enough to see me. Of course there was a delicacy in
speaking to her ladyship about Mr. Roden, which nobody
could understand better than I do; but I think she made me
something of a promise that she would say a word when a
proper time might come.

It could only have been a joke of mine; and I do joke
sometimes, as your lordship may have observed. But I
shouldn't think Roden would be the man to be mortally
offended by anything of that sort. Anyway, I will leave
the matter in your lordship's hands, merely remarking
that,--as your lordship may remember,--"Blessed are the
peace-makers, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

I have the honour to be,
My dear Lord Hampstead,
Your lordship's most obedient,
Very humble servant,

SAMUEL CROCKER.

Fretful and impatient as he was on that morning, it was impossible
for Ham