then be hard at work till
our marriage. I must of course be back when the session
commences. We talk of going to Nice, and thence to Genoa.

The old gentleman is very civil; but there has been no
word of money, nor will there be a word. However, thank
God, I don't want it.

Always your sincerest friend,

HENRY HARCOURT.

Reform Club--August, 184--.

These letters did not take long in the reading. Within five minutes
Bertram was spreading the butter on his toast; and within two minutes
more he was asking what news there was from Arthur--when would he be
home? He had received a great blow, a stunning blow; but he was able
to postpone the faintness which would follow it till he should be
where no eye could see him.

The breakfast passed away very silently. They all knew what those two
letters contained. One of the girls had had them in her hand, and had
known the handwriting of one and guessed that of the other. But even
without this they would have known. Are not most of our innermost
secrets known to all the world?

And then Bertram skulked off--or endeavoured rather to do so; for
Mrs. Wilkinson detected him in the act, and stopped him. She had said
nothing hitherto about his matrimonial or non-matrimonial affairs.
She had abstained with wonderful discretion; and she now intended
that her discretion should be rewarded.

"George, George," she said, as he turned from the breakfast-parlour
door to the rack in the hall on which his hat was hanging, "I want
you just for a minute." So George returned into the parlour as the
girls passed across the hall into the drawing-room.

"I'm afraid you'll think me unkind because I've said nothing about
this sad affair of yours."

"Not at all, aunt," he said: though she was no aunt of his, he had
always called her so when he had been at Hurst Staple as a child.
"There are some things which had, perhaps, better not be talked
about." Mrs. Wilkinson, however, was not the woman to be deterred by
such a faint repulse as this.

"Exactly so; except among intimate family friends. But I was very
sorry to hear about your breaking off the affair with Caroline
Waddington. I was, indeed; very. It would have been so suitable as
regards the old gentleman--I know all about that you know--" and
the lady nodded her head, as ladies will do sometimes when they
flatter themselves that they know more about such things than their
neighbours.

"It was necessary," said