waiter last night
mentioned a rarebit, 'gad he started up before me. I gave chase into
my early youth. However, my father never took me to meet the old fellow
again. I believe it lost me a fortune.'

Evan's thoughts were leaping to the cricket-field, or he would have
condoled with Mr. Raikes for a loss that evidently afflicted him still.

Now, it must be told that the lady's-maid of Mrs. Andrew Cogglesby,
borrowed temporarily by the Countess de Saldar for service at Beckley
Court, had slept in charge of the Countess's boxes at the Green Dragon:
the Countess having told her, with the candour of high-born dames to
their attendants, that it would save expense; and that, besides,
Admiral Combleman, whom she was going to see, or Sir Perkins Ripley (her
father's old friend), whom she should visit if Admiral Combleman was not
at his mansion-both were likely to have full houses, and she could not
take them by storm. An arrangement which left her upwards of twelve
hours' liberty, seemed highly proper to Maria Conning, this lady's-maid,
a very demure young person. She was at her bed-room window, as Evan
passed up the courtyard of the inn, and recognized him immediately. 'Can
it be him they mean that's the low tradesman?' was Maria's mysterious
exclamation. She examined the pair, and added: 'Oh, no. It must be the
tall one they mistook for the small one. But Mr. Harrington ought not to
demean himself by keeping company with such, and my lady should know of
it.'

My lady, alighting from the Lymport coach, did know of it, within a few
minutes after Evan had quitted the Green Dragon, and turned pale, as
high-born dames naturally do when they hear of a relative's disregard of
the company he keeps.

'A tailor, my lady!' said scornful Maria; and the Countess jumped and
complained of a pin.

'How did you hear of this, Conning?' she presently asked with composure.

'Oh, my lady, he was tipsy last night, and kept swearing out loud he was
a gentleman.'

'Tipsy!' the Countess murmured in terror. She had heard of inaccessible
truths brought to light by the magic wand of alcohol. Was Evan
intoxicated, and his dreadful secret unlocked last night?

'And who may have told you of this, Conning?' she asked.

Maria plunged into one of the boxes, and was understood to say that
nobody in particular had told her, but that among other flying matters
it had come to her ears.

'My brother is Charity itself,' sighed the Countess. 'He welcomes