erbert to
wear this ring for _my_ sake."

"I 'll bet my life on it," said I, taking the opal ring she drew from
her finger, as she spoke; "I'm in that mood of confidence now, I feel
there is nothing I could not promise."

"If so, then, Potts, let me have the benefit of this fortunate interval,
and ask you to promise me one thing, which is, not to change your mind
more than twice a day; don't be angry with me, but hear me out. You are
a good-hearted fellow, and have excellent intentions; I don't think I
know one less really selfish, but, at the same time, you are so
fickle of purpose, so undecided in action, that I 'd not be the least
astonished to hear, when we asked for you to-morrow at breakfast
time, that you had started for a tour in Norway, or on a voyage to the
Southern Pacific."

"And is this your judgment of me also, Miss Crofton?" said I, rising
from my seat.

"Oh, no, Mr. Potts. I would only suspect you of going off into the
Tyrol, or the Styrian Alps, and forgetting all about us, amidst the
glaciers and the cataracts."

"I wish you a good-night, and a better opinion of your humble servant,"
said I, bowing.

"Don't go, Potts--wait a minute--come back. I have something to tell
you."

I closed the door behind me, and hastened off, not, however, perfectly
clear whether I was the injured man, or one who had just achieved a
great outrage.

CHAPTER XXXVI. FURTHER INTERCOURSE WITH HARPAR

I am obliged to acknowledge that I was vainglorious enough to accept
a seat in the Crofton carriage on the morning of their departure,
and accompany them for a mile or so of the way,--even at the price of
returning on foot,--just that I might show myself to the landlady and
that odious old waiter in a position of eminence, and make them do
a bitter penance for the insults they had heaped on an illustrious
stranger. It was a poor and paltry triumph, and over very contemptible
adversaries, but I could not refuse it to myself. Crofton, too,
contributed largely to the success of my little scheme, by insisting
that I should take the place beside his sister, while he sat with his
back to the horses; and though I refused at first, I acceded at last,
with the bland compliance of a man who feels himself once more in his
accustomed station.

As throughout this true history I have candidly revealed the inmost
traits of my nature--well knowing the while how deteriorating such
innate anatomy must prove--I have ever felt that