d even from his own company, which to
judge by his miserable looks as he walked on alone was less pleasant
than any.

He was sorry now he had not gone to watch the juniors, where at least he
would have heard something less hateful than his own thoughts, and seen
something less hateful than the dreary creations of his own troubled
imagination.

"What's the use of keeping it up?" said he, bitterly, to himself. "I
don't care! Things can't be worse than they are. Down in the mouth!
He'd be down in the mouth if he were!--the fool! I've a good mind to--
And yet I daren't face it. What's the use of trusting to a fellow like
Silk! Bah! how I hate him. He'll betray me as soon as ever it suits
him, and--and--oh, I don't care. Let him!"

Gilks had reached this dismal climax in his reflections, when he
suddenly became aware that the object of his meditations was approaching
him.

Silk had his own reasons for not joining the throng that was looking on
at the juniors' match. It may have been mere lack of interest, or it
may have been a special desire to take this walk. Whichever it was, his
presence now was about as unwelcome an apparition as Gilks could have
encountered, and the smile on the intruder's face showed pretty clearly
that he was aware of the fact.

"What are you prowling about here for?" said he as he came up, with all
the insolence of a warder addressing a convict.

"I've a right to walk here if I choose," replied Gilks, sulkily; "what
are you here for?"

"To find you. I want to speak to you," replied Silk.

"I don't want to speak to you," replied Gilks, moving on.

"Don't you?" replied Silk, with a sneer. "You'll have to do it whether
you want or not, my boy."

There was something about the Welcher which had the effect of cowing his
companion, and Gilks, fuming inwardly, and with a face as black as
thunder, said, "Well--say what you've got to say, and be done with it."

Silk laughed.

"Thank you. I'll take my time, not yours. Which way are you going?"

"No way at all," said Gilks, standing still.

"Very well. I'm going this way. Come with me."

And he began to walk on, Gilks sullenly following.

"You saw Wyndham the other day?" said Silk.

"Suppose I did?"

"What did he want?"

"I don't know--some foolery or other. I didn't listen to him."

"You needn't tell lies. What did he want, I say?"

"How should I know?" retorted Gilks.

"What did he want? do you hear?" repeated the