m, Digby," said Eccles, carelessly, as he lit his
cigarette, and stretched his legs on a vacant chair. I took no notice
of his words, but walked on. Before, however, I had made three steps
my eyes caught the flutter of a dress at the end of the alley. It was
merely the last folds of some floating muslin, but it was enough to rout
all other thoughts from my head, and I flew down the walk with lightning
speed. I was right; it was Pauline. In an instant I was beside her.

"Dearest, darling Pauline," I cried, seizing her round the waist and
kissing her cheek, before she well knew, "how happy it makes me to see
you even for a few seconds."

"Ah, milord, I did not expect to see you here," said she, half
distantly.

"I am not milord; I am your own Digby--Digby Nor-cott, who loves you,
and will make you his wife."

"Ma foi! children don't marry,--at least demoiselles don't marry them,"
said she, with a saucy laugh.

"I am no more an 'enfant,'" said I, with a passionate stress on the
word, "than I was last night, when you never left my arm except to sit
at my side at supper."

"But you are going away," said she, pouting; "else why that
travelling-dress, and that sack strapped at your side?"

"Only for a few weeks. A short tour up the Rhine, Pauline, to see the
world, and complete my education; and then I will come back and marry
you, and you shall be mistress of a beautiful house, and have everything
you can think of."

"Vrai?" asked she, with a little laugh.

"I swear it by this kiss."

"Pardie, Monsieur? you are very adventurous," said she, repulsing me;
"you will make me not regret that you are going so soon."

"Oh, Pauline! when you know that I adore you, that I only value wealth
to share it with you; that all I ask of life is to devote it to you."

"And that you have n't got full thirty seconds left for that admirable
object," broke in Eccles. "We must run for it like fury, boy, or we
shall be late."

"I'll not go."

"Then I 'll be shot if I stay here and meet your father," said he,
turning away.

"Oh, Pauline, dearest, dearest of my heart!" I sobbed out, as I fell
upon her neck; and the vile bell of the railway rang out with its
infernal discord as I clasped her to my heart.

"Come along, and confound you," cried Eccles; and with a porter on
one side and Eccles on the other, I was hurried along down the garden,
across a road, and along a platform, where the station-master, wild with
passion, stamped a