her bitterly that I knew all, had discovered all ;
that the necessity of devotion to my legal
studies would prevent my having the pleasure
of waiting on her ; but that, as a friend, nay,
an acquaintance, I trusted she would not resent
the few words of friendly counsel I would
venture to give her, for her own sake. " Fly," I
said, " fly the fatal seduction ; it will gradually
impair your strength, weaken your powers, and
stupify the faculties. Every time you yield to
the temptation, think, oh think how you are
hurrying to destruction."

An answer arrived next day, couched in
very mysterious language. She could not
understand the tone of my letter. If I had
discovered, as I said I had, what she was
engaged in, there was nothing, thank Heaven, to
blush for. Many good and eminent persons
had before given way to the same weakness.
For her part, she gloried in it, and would never
give up the practice. " Impair my strength!"
she added; " how little you know——After—
after every bout, I feel myself stronger and
better." (Every bout! of course she fancied
she did; the most confirmed drun ——I mean,
beings—that is their fatal delusion.)

I strove to banish her from my mind, but
ineffectually.

Two months passed away. It was too much
for me; it was wearing me to a thread. It must
end one way or the other; I chose the other
way. I would go and see Triton Villas, merely
out of curiosity.

I stood at the gate with mingled feelings.
Before me was the fatal window. I paused;
should I go in, merely out of curiosity?
Prudence said yes, and in I went.

I saw her; she was good natured, genial,
warm.

She reproached me gently with my absence.
She was afraid I was offended. She was more
grieved than angry, I could see, and with a
sudden impulse I resolved that we should have
a reconciliation. I love scenes of reconciliation.

"But you must come to us now; next week
we are to have a little festival; in short, I am
going——"

"Away?" I said, with a start of alarm.

"Well, yes," she said, a little embarrassed;
"did they not tell you? I thought you knew it.
It has been settled some time."

"That you were to go away," I said.

"Yes," she said; "and my marriage also."

"Your marriage!" I started from my seat.
"And who is the vile impostor; the base — er—
er—" I could not think of a word for a moment,
"er — scullion — who has dared—"

"Hush! hush!" she said, amused and
flattered at my warmth; " if Captain Rideaboot
heard you——"

"Better and better," I said, bitterly;"
nothing could be better, or more suitable."

"Well," she said, modestly, " it is considered
a good match; and do you know," she added,
"he has been so good, so kind, so generous,
about that little — you know—weakness of mine,
which I hinted to you. He will not require me
to give it up——"

"Ha! ha!" I laughed; " what revelling you
will have together."

"Yes," she said; " the truth is, I have found
out he is just as much addicted to it as I am.
Wasn't it good? And more," she added, " he
was actually so kind as to bring me in the
materials by stealth — wasn't it good of him?"

"Excellent," I said, bitterly.

"Only yesterday," she added, " such a delicate
little surprise as he gave me — only think,
knowing my taste, a whole case ——"

"Of the materials, I suppose," I said.

"Yes," she said, " of the very newest kind;
wasn't it considerate of him? I must show
them to you."

She went to a little cupboard and brought
out a small chest, opened it, and took out one
by one——Goodness! what a mystery was here
—a light began to break in on me!

"Look," she said; " two gymnastic clubs,
just my weight and size; and, look here, a set
of dumb-bells, beautifully finished — ain't it
charming! — a balance rope; a portable pole,
jointed so as to be carried about; a patent chest
expander; a ——-"

I saw it all, and put forward my hand to stop
her.

"I used to practise with them at night up in
my room. When papa and mamma were gone
to bed I would sit up till all hours. Nothing
like practice. See how I twist them about."

She flourished the club over her head, twirled
it, twisted it, and then held it out in the air
steadily for many moments. It was on a line
with her mouth.

I saw the whole picture of that fatal night
before me, with only the addition of the blind
drawn up; and how the fatal shadow became
projected.

NEW WORK BY MR. DICKENS,
In Monthly Parts, uniform with the Original Editions of
" Pickwick," " Copperfield," &c.
In MAY will be published, PART I., price Is., of
A NEW WORK BY CHARLES DICKENS
IN TWENTY MONTHLY PARTS.
London : CHAPMAN and HALL, 193, Piccadilly.

Volume XI. will begin on the I3th of February, 1864, with a New Serial Story, entitled
QUITE ALONE,
BY GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA.