ments. Rough men, laden with loosely-wrapped, brown-papered
packages, strode happily homeward; wan women skurried along leading
eager children from unwonted shopping for dainties; carriages rolled
by, with the gas-light glimpsing on occupants in evening dress, driven
Christmas dinnerward.

Van Morris recked little of all this, as he strode rapidly over the
very spot where his coolness had saved an ugly misadventure twelve
hours before. His brain was going faster than his body; one goal only
had he in view; one refrain ever sounded in his memory: "To gain, or
lose, it all!"

A quick turn of the corner, and he stood at the door he had quietly
escaped from during the ball. The servant replied to his inquiry that
Miss Blanche was in the library; and thither he turned, with the
freedom of long intimacy.

Only the warm glow of fire-light filled the room; there was a rustle,
as of a retreating silk dress. There was also a man's figure, backed
by the fire, with that not infrequent expression all over it that
tells he would really be at his ease if he only knew how.

"Why, Andy! And in your driving suit!"

"Van, dearest old boy," cried the other, irrelevantly, "congratulate
me! I'm the luckiest dog alive!"

"With all my heart," Van answered, shaking the proffered hand
heartily. "I was sure it would come out all right."

"You were?" Andy fairly beamed. "She said so!"

"What? _she_ said so? Did Rose Wood expect you to break off, then?"

"No, no! Not _that_. She said she knew you'd be glad of the match."

"Glad of--the match!" Van stared at his friend, with growing suspicion
in his mind.

"Yes, you dear old Van! I'm engaged, and just the happiest of--"

"_Engaged?_" and Van seized Andy by the shoulders with both hands.

"Yes, all fixed! And Rose Wood is just the dearest, best girl after
all! I'd never have known happiness but for her!"

Van Morris turned the speaker full to the firelight, and stared hard
in his face.

"I wouldn't have believed it, Andy," he said, contemptuously. "You
have come _here_ drunk again!"

"No, indeed! I have pledged my word to _her_ never to touch a drop!"
protested Andy, with imperturbable good nature. "And, Van, _she has
accepted me_."

"_She?_"

"Yes. Rose said, 'Morris has his heart set on the match;' I went
straight on that hint, and Blanche Allmand will be Mrs. Andrew Browne
next Easter."

Morris answered no word.

With a deep, hard breath, he turned abruptly, strode to th