ns more onerous. It was
unkind of me--and I wished that Harcourt had not left the room. As for
his conduct, I tried to find fault with it, but could not. It was
gentlemanly and feeling. The fact was, I was in a very bad humour, and
could not at the time discover the reason, which was neither more nor
less than that I was more jealous of finding Harcourt so intimate at
Lady de Clare's, than I was at the unpalatable reception which I had me
with. The waiter came in, and brought me a note from Mr Masterton.

"I have this morning received a summons from your father, who
returned, it appears, two days ago, and is now at the Adelphi Hotel.
I am sorry to say, that stepping out of his carriage when travelling,
he missed his footing, and snapped his tendon Achilles. He is laid up
on a couch, and, as you may suppose, his amiability is not increased
by the accident, and the pain attending it. As he has requested me to
bring forward immediate evidence as to your identity, and the presence
of Mr Cophagus is necessary, I propose that we start for Reading
to-morrow at nine o'clock. I have a curiosity to go down there, and
having a leisure day or two, it will be a relaxation. I wish to see
my old acquaintance Timothy, and your shop. Answer by bearer.

"J. Masterton."

I wrote a few lines, informing Mr Masterton that I would be with him at
the appointed hour, and then sat down to my solitary meal. How
different from when I was last at this hotel! Now I knew nobody. I had
to regain my footing in society, and that could only be accomplished by
being acknowledged by my father; and, as soon as that was done, I would
call upon Lord Windermear, who would quickly effect what I desired. The
next morning I was ready at nine o'clock, and set off with post horses,
with Mr Masterton, in his own carriage. I told him what had occurred
the day before, and how disgusted I was at my reception.

"Upon my word, Japhet, I think you are wrong," replied the old
gentleman; "and if you had not told me of your affection for Miss
Temple, to see whom, by-the-by, I confess to be one of the chief motives
of my going down with you, I should almost suppose that you were blinded
by jealousy. Does it not occur to you, that if Mr Harcourt was
admitted to the ladies at such an early hour, there was preference shown
him in that quarter? And now I recollect that I heard something about
it. Harcourt's elder brother died, and he's