such thing, Louis! Does he suppose I am to have no
one else but himself for my friend--_friend_, indeed!" he repeated.
"It's all indolence, Louis."

Louis looked up half alarmed, startled at his vehemence.

"Perhaps," said Hamilton, relaxing his hold, and laughing as he spoke,
"perhaps if I had not been so lazy, I should have found a more suitable
friend before; as it is, I do not yet find Trevannion indispensable--by
no means," he added, scornfully.

"Dear Hamilton," said Louis, "I shall be quite unhappy if I think I am
the cause of your thinking ill of Trevannion. You used to be such great
friends."

"None the worse, perhaps, because we are aware of a common absence
of perfection in each other," replied Hamilton, whose countenance had
gradually regained its calmness. "It is foolish to be angry, Louis,
but I was; and now let there be an end of it--I don't mean to forsake
you for all the Trevannions in Christendom."

They had by this time reached the playground gates, and were here
overtaken by Frank Digby, who had before engaged to be one of the
party.

"Better late than never," said Louis, in reply to his breathless
excuses. "I had my doubts whether your pressing engagements with
Maister Dunn would allow you to accompany us."

"Why, I got rid of him pretty soon," said Frank; "only just as I had
wedged myself out of the phalanx, who should appear but Thally."

"_Who?_" said Louis.

"Tharah," repeated Frank.

"Sally Simmons, the boot-cleaner, Louis," said Hamilton;
"you are up to nothing yet."

"She's a queer stick," said Frank.

"What a strange description of a woman!" remarked Louis.
"It is as clear as a person being a brick."

"And so it is," replied Frank; "only it's just the reverse."

"Up comes Thally with my Sunday boots as bright as her fair hands
could make them, and wanted me to look at a hole she had scraped in
them, nor, though I promised to give her my opinion of her handiwork
when I came back, was I allowed to depart till she had permission
to take them to her 'fayther.'"

Nothing worthy of record passed during the walk to Bristol till
the trio reached College Green. Here Louis began to look out for
music-shops, while Frank entertained his companions with a running
commentary on the shops, carriages, and people. It was a clear, bright
day, and Clifton seemed to have poured itself out in the Green.

"Look there, Hamilton, there's a whiskered don! What a pair of
moustaches! Hamilton, w