owers, and telling him
that "mamma" was very grateful to him for the attention.

A week after, and Richard had called upon them; and again before a week
had elapsed, he was visiting regularly, and sitting reading to mother
and daughter as they plied their needles.

Then came walks, and an occasional ride into the country, and soon
afterwards Frank Pratt called upon his old friend, to find him leading
Netta quietly into the Jenkles's house, and Pratt stood whistling for a
moment before knocking at Mrs Fiddison's door, and asking leave to wait
till his friend came across.

Mrs Fiddison had a widow's cap cocked very rakishly over one ear, and
she further disarranged it to rub the ear as she examined the visitor,
before feeling satisfied that he had no designs on any of the property
in the place, and admitting him to Richard's sanctum.

At the end of half an hour Richard came over.

"Ah, Franky!" he exclaimed, "this is a pleasure."

"Is it?" said Pratt.

"Is it?--of course it is; but what are you staring at?"

"You. Seems a nice girl over the way."

"Poor darling!--yes," said Richard, earnestly.

"Got as far as that, has it?" said Pratt, quietly.

"I don't understand you," said Richard, staring hard.

"Suppose not," said Pratt, bitterly. "Way of the world; though I didn't
expect to see it in you."

"`Rede me this riddle,' as Carlyle says," exclaimed Richard. "What do
you mean, man?"

"Only that it's as well to be off with the old love before you begin
with the new."

"Why, Franky, what a donkey you are!" said Richard, laughing. "You
don't think that I--that they--that--that--well, that I am paying
attentions to that young lady--Miss Lane?"

"Well, it looks like it," said Pratt, grimly.

"Why, my dear boy, nothing has ever been farther from my thoughts," said
Richard. "It's absurd."

"Does the young lady think so too?"

Richard started.

"Well, really--I never looked at it in that light. But, oh, it's
ridiculous. Only a few neighbourly attentions; and, besides, the poor
girl's in a most precarious state of health."

"Hum!" said Pratt. "Well, don't make the girl think you mean anything.
Who are they?"

"I asked no questions, of course--how could I? They are quite ladies,
though, in a most impecunious state."

"Hum!" said Frank, thoughtfully, and he rose from his chair to make
himself comfortable after his way; that is to say, he placed his feet in
the seat, and sat on the back--treatmen