I should feel greatly obliged by your letting me
know of it. I can answer for my testimonials
being satisfactory; and I don't care where I go,
what the climate is, or how long I am away."
He looked about him, while he said this, at the
throng of strangers passing us by on either
side, in a strange, suspicious, manner, as if he
thought that some of them might be watching
us.

"If I hear of anything of the kind I will
not fail to mention it," I said; and then added,
so as not to keep him altogether at arm's length
on the subject of the Fairlies, "I am going
down to Limmeridge, to-day, on business. Miss
Halcombe and Miss Fairlie are away, just now,
on a visit to some friends in Yorkshire."

His eyes brightened, and he seemed about to
say something in answer; but the same
momentary nervous spasm crossed his face again.
He took my hand, pressed it hard, and disappeared
among the crowd, without saying another
word. Though he was little more than a
stranger to me, I waited for a moment, looking
after him almost with a feeling of regret. I had
gained, in my profession, sufficient experience
of young men, to know what the outward signs
and tokens were of their beginning to go wrong;
and, when I resumed my walk to the railway, I
am sorry to say I felt more than doubtful about
Mr. Hartright's future.

IV.

LEAVING by an early train, I got to
Limmeridge in time for dinner. The house was
oppressively empty and dull. I had expected
that good Mrs. Vesey would have been company
for me in the absence of the young ladies; but
she was confined to her room by a cold. The
servants were so surprised at seeing me that
they hurried and bustled absurdly, and made all
sorts of annoying mistakes. Even the butler,
who was old enough to have known better,
brought me a bottle of port that was chilled.
The reports of Mr. Fairlie's health were just as
usual; and when I sent up a message to
announce my arrival, I was told that he would be
delighted to see me the next morning, but that
the sudden news of my appearance had
prostrated him with palpitations for the rest of the
evening. The wind howled dismally, all night,
and strange cracking and groaning noises
sounded here, there, and everywhere in the
empty house. I slept as wretchedly as possible;
and got up, in a mighty bad humour, to breakfast
by myself the next morning.

At ten o'clock I was conducted to Mr. Fairlie's
apartments. He was in his usual room,
his usual chair, and his usual aggravating state
of mind and body. When I went in, his valet
was standing before him, holding up for inspection
a heavy volume of etchings, as long and as
broad as my office writing-desk. The miserable
foreigner grinned in the most abject manner,
and looked ready to drop with fatigue, while his
master composedly turned over the etchings,
and brought their hidden beauties to light with
the help of a magnifying glass.

"You very best of good old friends," said Mr.
Fairlie, leaning back lazily before he could look
at me, "are you quite well? How nice of you
to come here and see me in my solitude. Dear
Gilmore!"

I had expected that the valet would be
dismissed when I appeared; but nothing of the
sort happened. There he stood, in front of his
master's chair, trembling under the weight of
the etchings; and there Mr. Fairlie sat, serenely
twirling the magnifying glass between his white
fingers and thumbs.

"I have come to speak to you on a very important
matter," I said; "and you will therefore
excuse me, if I suggest that we had better
be alone."

The unfortunate valet looked at me gratefully.
Mr. Fairlie faintly repeated my last three
words, "better be alone," with every appearance
of the utmost possible astonishment.

I was in no humour for trifling; and I
resolved to make him understand what I meant.

"Oblige me by giving that man permission
to withdraw," I said, pointing to the valet.

Mr. Fairlie arched his eyebrows, and pursed
up his lips, in sarcastic surprise.

"Man?" he repeated. "You provoking old
Gilmore, what can you possibly mean by calling
him a man? He's nothing of the sort. He
might have been a man half an hour ago, before
I wanted my etchings; and he may be a man
half an hour hence, when I don't want them any
longer. At present, he is simply a portfolio
stand. Why object, Gilmore, to a portfolio
stand?"

"I do object. For the third time, Mr. Fairlie,
I beg that we may be alone."

My tone and manner left him no alternative
but to comply with my request. He looked at
the servant, and pointed peevishly to a chair at
his side.

"Put down the etchings and go away," he
said. "Don't upset me by losing my place.
Have you, or have you not, lost my place? Are
you sure you have not? And have you put
my hand-bell quite within my reach! Yes?
Then, why the devil don't you go?"

The valet went out. Mr. Fairlie twisted himself
round in his chair, polished the magnifying
glass with his delicate cambric handkerchief, and
indulged himself in a sidelong inspection of the
open volume of etchings. It was not easy to
keep my temper, under these circumstances; but
I did keep it.

"I have come here at great personal
inconvenience," I said, "to serve the interests of
your niece and your family; and I think I have
established some slight claim to be favoured
with your attention, in return."

"Don't bully me!" exclaimed Mr. Fairlie,
falling back helplessly in the chair, and closing
his eyes. "Please don't bully me. I'm not
strong enough."

I was determined not to let him provoke me,
for Laura Fairlie's sake.

"My object," I went on, "is to entreat you
to reconsider your letter, and not to force me to