keep up a brisk correspondence
with his old friend. But no letter gave Howard a keener pleasure, than the
one from which the following extracts are taken, and which will connect
the history of events:

TO HOWARD PEMBERTON.

MY DEAR OLD CHUM: Every day I seem to miss you more and more, and I
only wish the time had come for me to throw off school and take my
plunge, as you have done, into the great stream of life. I don't
take an interest in anything now; even cricket is a bore, and the
talks about forming for foot-ball fail to start me up. The Doctor
evidently misses you, and very often inquires after your welfare.
He is not himself at all. I think the end of last term shook him a
great deal. Mrs. Brier is as she always was. I don't know what some
of us would do without her.

Is not my cousin spending a very long time at Ashley House? I think
I told you I was invited to go and see her there, and I could write
you a dozen pages or more about the visit, if time allowed--but it
doesn't. Madeleine and Ethel are as thick as thieves. I can quite
believe that my cousin has cheered and helped them all very much in
this time of their great trial, and I don't wonder at any girl
loving her, for she is a first-rate companion, and as good as she
is beautiful.

I had a long chat with Mr. Morton, and he appeared to be much
interested in hearing me talk of poor Digby's ways and doings
amongst us. But you hardly know sometimes whether he is awake or
asleep when you are talking to him, for he keeps his head buried in
his hands. He seems regularly smitten down, poor man! He is talking
of going abroad for some months, and I think it will do him good.
If he goes, it will only be upon the condition that Madeleine stays
with Ethel. I shouldn't be surprised if she were to become a
permanent resident there.

I don't know if you ever heard Madeleine's history. It is a
singular one, like my own. Her father and my father were partners
in business. A fire ruined them both; and, as you know, an accident
on the railway occurred which proved fatal to both. My poor mother
I never knew, and she knew nothing of these troubles; but
Madeleine's mother had to bear them all, and the weight was too
heavy; she died broken-hearted, the life crushed out of her by
misfortune upon misfo