tribute to myself, and I promise you I shall
carefully consider the whole."

He went his way. As he got to the
river he saw workmen standing about the
bridge; poles and ropes, and other matériel
for scaffolding, were on the ground. He
knew what this was for, and his face
turned backwards to the window of the
castle, where the sick girl was lying. He
spoke to the men, and they told him the
removal was not to have begun until next
week, but that the master had sent sudden
orders to have it begun at once. The
pretty bridge, light and airy, and a real
ornament to the place, was to be rudely
pulled to pieces, as though it were a
birdcage in some bold child's hands. It would
leave rude rents and gaps behind it in the
bank, even though the ground on both
sides would be trimmed up and smoothed.
To such things the surrounding objects
grow accustomed: they seem to miss them
when they are gone. He stood and looked
in a sort of reverie, now gazing at the
condemned bridge, then glancing at the
window, where she lay in such an extremity,
and yet to whose wild whim this costly
homage was being paid, at a moment when
she might seem hurrying away beyond such
trifles. There was something in this persistent
determination to carry out this girlish
vendetta to the end that he could not but
be interested in, and even secretly admire.

As he passed on, the strange proposal
that he had to think over came back
on him. There was, indeed, something
piquant in the situation, something, too,
in the notion that here was an opportunity
for a sacrifice that would be actually noble.
More noble still the sacrifice of his own
inclinations, which were with Jessica still, in
spite of her brusque behaviour, and although
he was formally severed from her by her own
act; and, unless he was utterly astray in
his judgment of her, she herself would be
the one to urge him to such a sacrifice.
Here, indeed, was he being plunged into the
true drama—something of action, with play
of character. But, above all, he thought,
with triumph, what a refutation was here
of Jessica's unworthy imputation. This
looked like an effort of petty spite forsooth;
it was the most genuine tribute he had met
with in all his life. He longed that she
should know it, and confess, with
humiliation, what a base estimate she had formed
of human nature.

Still what was he to do? Even if there
was something of sacrifice required, he was
tempted to make it. To save the life of a
natural genuine girl who loved him was
not so terrible a holocaust after all; it
would be a noble and unselfish act, and
something to have lived for. There was a
genuineness in this homage to himself
which it would be a crime for him to pass
over and leave unnoticed. His heart turned
to Jessica, but her brusque, bold letter
barred the way like a great gate.

As he was turning to walk home, one of
his sailors came towards him, holding out a
letter. He took it, and read, on the outside,
"With great haste," and opened it. It ran:

                                             Formanton.
My dear Boy,—The crash is at last
come, that you and I both prophesied long
ago. It could not go on. You know
whose extravagances have brought us to
this. Bolton has in the most generous
way staved off an execution, but another
may be put in at any moment. You can,
and must, save us. I have heard from
several quarters that you are secure of Sir
Charles's daughter. For God's sake, strike
home if you can, and save us all from
disgrace. Let none of your philosophy or
refining come between us, on this occasion at
least. Lose not a moment, for moments
are precious; and I shall be with you
myself almost as soon as you receive this.

Conway hurried on in the strangest
whirl of mind that man could conceive.
It seemed as though the Fates were bent
on driving—forcing him, as with iron bars
—into this marriage.

Now Ready, price 5s. 6d., bound in green cloth,
THE SECOND VOLUME
of the New Series of
ALL THE YEAR ROUND.
To be had of all Booksellers.

MR. CHARLES DICKENS'S FINAL READINGS.

MR. CHARLES DICKENS'S Final Farewell
Readings will take place at St. James's Hall, as
follows: Tuesday, February 15, " Boots at the Holly
Tree Inn," "Sikes and Nancy" (from. Oliver Twist),
and "Mrs. Gamp" (last time). Tuesday, February
22, " Nicholas Nickleby at Mr. Squeers's School"
(last time), and "Mr. Chops the Dwarf " (last time).
Tuesday, March 1, " David Copperfield " (last time),
and the " Trial from Pickwick." Tuesday, March 8,
"Boots at the Holly Tree Inn " (last time), " Sikes and
Nancy" (from Oliver Twist, last time), and " Mr. Bob
Sawyer's Party" (from Pickwick, last time). Tuesday,
March 15 (FINAL FAREWELL READING), "The
Christmas Carol" (last time), and the " Trial from
Pickwick " (last time).

All communications to be addressed to Messrs.
Chappell and Co., 50, New Bond-street, W.