r to
the light of the boy's oratory, and he stopped short.

"Well?" said his host, with a pleasant smile; while Andrew leaned back,
apparently quite satisfied with the impression his companion was making.
"Pray go on. You drew the great trout close to the river-bank. Don't
say you lost it after all."

"Oh no, I caught it," said Frank, colouring; "but I am talking too
much."

"My dear boy," said Mr Selby, "believe me, your fresh, young
experiences are delightful to us weary men of the town. Cannot you feel
how they revive our recollections of our own boyish days? There, pray
don't think we are tired of anecdotes like this. Forbes here used to be
fond of the country; but he has grown such a lover of town life and the
court that he hardly mentions it now."

He went on playfully bantering Andrew, till quite a little passage of
give-and-take ensued, which made Frank think of what a strange mixture
of clever, vain boy and thoughtful man his fellow-page seemed to be,
while his own heart sank as he began to make comparisons, and he felt
how thoroughly young he seemed to be amongst the clever men by whom he
was surrounded.

But all the time his ears were active, and he listened for remarks that
would endorse his suspicions of the principles of the members. Still,
not a word reached him save such as strengthened Andrew's assurance that
Mr Selby was one of a party of clever men who liked to meet for social
intercourse. The fight must have been with other people who occupied
the room, he thought, and in all probability had nothing to do with this
club at all.

The evening passed rapidly away, and before Frank realised that it was
near the time when they ought to be back at Saint James's Mr Selby
turned to him.

"We are early birds here," he said; "so pray excuse what I am about to
say, and believe that I am delighted to have made your acquaintance, one
which is the beginning, I feel, of a life friendship. Gentlemen," he
said, rising, "it is time to part till our next meeting. Hands round,
please, and then adieu."

He turned to Frank, and held out his hand with a smile.

"Our little parting ceremony," he said.

The boy involuntarily held out his, ready to say good-bye; but it was
clasped warmly by Selby in his left and retained, while Andrew with a
quick, eager look took his other.

Frank stared, for the rest, who had increased by degrees to nearly
forty, all joined hands till they had formed a ring facing in