have left you so long in suspense--that is, if there has been
suspense. For myself, I have to own that I have been very
weak--worse than weak, I fear you will think. I do not know whether
your old regard for me will prompt you to make any excuse for me,
but I am well sure that I can make none for myself which will not
have suggested itself to you without my urging it. If you choose to
think that I have been heartless--or, rather, if you are able so to
think of me, no words of mine, written or spoken now, will remove
that impression from your mind.

I believe that I need write nothing further. You will understand
from what I have said all that I should have to say were I to refer
at length to that which has passed between us. All that is over now,
and it only remains for me to express a hope that you may be happy.
Whether we shall ever see each other again, who shall say? but if we
do I trust that we may not meet as enemies. May God bless you here
and hereafter.

HARRY CLAVERING

When the letter was finished, Harry sat for a while by his open window
looking at the moon, over the chimney-pots of his square, and thinking
of his career in life as it had hitherto been fulfilled. The great
promise of his earlier days had not been kept. His plight in the world
was now poor enough, though his hopes had been so high. He was engaged
to be married, but had no income on which to marry. He had narrowly
escaped great wealth. Ah! it was hard for him to think of that without a
regret; but he did strive so to think of it. Though he told himself that
it would have been evil for him to have depended on money which had been
procured by the very act which had been to him an injury--to have
dressed himself in the feathers which had been plucked from Lord Ongar's
wings--it was hard for him to think of all he had missed, and rejoice
thoroughly that he had missed it. But he told himself that he so
rejoiced, and endeavored to be glad that he had not soiled his hands
with riches which never would have belonged to the woman he had loved
had she not earner them by being false to him. Early on the following
morning he sent off his letter, and then, putting himself into a cab,
bowled down to Onslow Crescent. The sheepfold was now very pleasant to
him when the head shepherd was away, and so much gratification it was
natural that he should allow himself.

That evening, when he came fro