nished round the corner. But the force of her appeal had
been a little blunted; for the young man was not only destitute of
sisters, but of any female relative nearer than a great-aunt in Wales.
Now he was alone, besides, the spell that he had hitherto obeyed began
to weaken; he considered his behaviour with a sneer; and plucking up the
spirit of revolt, he started in pursuit. The reader, if he has ever
plied the fascinating trade of the noctambulist, will not be unaware
that, in the neighbourhood of the great railway centres, certain early
taverns inaugurate the business of the day. It was into one of these
that Challoner, coming round the corner of the block, beheld his
charming companion disappear. To say he was surprised were inexact, for
he had long since left that sentiment behind him. Acute disgust and
disappointment seized upon his soul; and with silent oaths he damned
this commonplace enchantress. She had scarce been gone a second ere the
swing-doors reopened, and she appeared again in company with a young man
of mean and slouching attire. For some five or six exchanges they
conversed together with an animated air; then the fellow shouldered
again into the tap; and the young lady, with something swifter than a
walk, retraced her steps towards Challoner. He saw her coming, a miracle
of grace; her ankle, as she hurried, flashing from her dress; her
movements eloquent of speed and youth; and though he still entertained
some thoughts of flight, they grew miserably fainter as the distance
lessened. Against mere beauty he was proof: it was her unmistakable
gentility that now robbed him of the courage of his cowardice. With a
proved adventuress he had acted strictly on his right; with one whom, in
spite of all, he could not quite deny to be a lady, he found himself
disarmed. At the very corner from whence he had spied upon her
interview, she came upon him, still transfixed, and--"Ah!" she cried,
with a bright flush of colour. "Ah! Ungenerous!"

The sharpness of the attack somewhat restored the Squire of Dames to the
possession of himself.

"Madam," he returned, with a fair show of stoutness, "I do not think
that hitherto you can complain of any lack of generosity; I have
suffered myself to be led over a considerable portion of the metropolis;
and if I now request you to discharge me of my office of protector, you
have friends at hand who will be glad of the succession."

She stood a moment dumb.

"It is well," she