her as soon as I return. And, Mr. Mahon,
excuse me, but get rid of that Frenchwoman as
soon as you can. Why should you burden
yourself with her?"

"Burden! Sure it's a pleasure. And the
girls find her a great comfort. And now do you
take care of yourself; there are no end of
fortune-hunters in Paris."

So Jammie Tulloch departed, and I could not
say whether he left much regret for that departure
behind him; for in a day or two I went on
circuit myself and was absent a month.

On my return, I found two letters awaiting
me. The first was from Ellie. She informed me
that they were going on very tranquilly, and that
Madame la Rose had got two pupils, and talked
of taking a room in the same house, so as to
board with them.

"Mr. Timbs is dead, you will be sorry to
hear," she continued, " so papa has lost that
source of present work and grand anticipation.
"We have never seen or heard anything
of Jammie Tulloch since the day I
extracted the two sovereigns from him. Do
you think he died of the operation? Do come
out and see us soon. I think Kate looks ill, and
is not as bright as she used to be. She sends
her love— so does madame— so do I.

                                      " Ever yours, ELLIE M.

"P.S. An old clerk of Timbs's told papa
that you were to be married shortly to a lady
with quantities of money, the daughter of an
eminent Q.C. I hope it is not true. What
should we do without you?"

How could so absurd an account get into
circulation? And how could Kate— that is
Ellie— believe it?

The other letter was from Tulloch, and announced
his engagement to Miss Goldfrap.
"I wish," he wrote, " you would see the
Mahons and break this matter to Kate. I do
not mind confiding to you that the poor girl
was extremely partial to me; nor was it without
an effort that I gave her up. Nothing but a sense
of what was due to myself would have induced
me to do so; but when all expenses come to be
paid out of one pocket it makes a serious difference.
Be sure you say how warmly I admire
her, and anything else that would soothe her
feelings which suggests itself."

Confound the coxcomb! To dare to write
thus of my peerless Kate! But must he not
have had good reason to do so, or, with his
caution, he would not? Oh, idiot that he was,
to weigh a few thousands against the worth of
such a gem! Well, it's an ill wind that blows
no one good; she may turn to me yet. And
really this last circuit shows me a very fair
chance of success. In four or five years, at
this rate, I may venture—

But my further speculations were cut short
by the entrance of Mahon in a state of the
wildest excitement, with a letter in his hand.

"Longmore, my dear fellow, here's great
news; read that. Sure that poor fellow
Timbs has left my darling Katie his residuary
legatee. Residuary; no less! And faith they
say he has left a bank of money; but as sure
as ye sit there, them divils of English lawyers
will cheat the poor girl of the half of it. We
got the letter this morning, so I came to you
direct— you that have been our friend through
thick and thin, sunshine and storm! Now go
to these people, 'Pluckett and Maule,' and
inquire about it, and find out when we can touch
the cash, and come back and dine, and I'll go
and order in a nice little dinner, with a bottle
of port and champagne too, faith!"

The letter in question was from a well-known
firm, to whom I soon proceeded, and who permitted
me to peruse a copy of the will. It proved,
that after large bequests to charities, to distant
relatives, to old servants, a large residue came to
my fair cousin— so large as even to surpass the
fortune of Miss Goldfrap. After a few formalities
she would be able to take possession.

A few weeks later, and I was explaining and
advising with Kate in a long tête-à-tête interview.
After listening to her quiet and sensible
projects respecting her father and sister, I approached
a subject we had hitherto avoided.

"How furious Tulloch will be when he finds
he lost you and got less money with Miss
Goldfrap!"

"Why?" she asked.

"Because— because— but I cannot jest, dear
Kate, about what may have cost you even a
passing grief— he was not worthy of you!"

"What are you talking of?" she exclaimed, indignantly.
"Why, you must know that Jammie
Tulloch was a man utterly without attraction for
me; was not at all the sort of man I could fall
in love with." Meeting my eye, she blushed
and bent her head. Her glorious hair fell over
her cheek and had to be shaken back again.

"Not the sort of man you could fall in love
with?" I asked: my heart beating wildly. " What
sort of man could you fall in love with, Kate?"

"One who can be generous as well as prudent,"
she said, in a low tone, clasping her hands
together; " one who can do long and true service
to a friend, as though it were a personal gratification;
one who is brave enough to give his arm
to a poor forlorn shabby stranger in the gayest
gathering-place in London!"

"Kate— beloved Kate!" I threw myself at
her feet.

"No! Not there, truest, kindest! but in my
arms! against my heart!" said Kate.

NEW WORK BY MR. DICKENS,
In Monthly Parts, uniform with the Original Editions of
"Pickwick," "Copperfleld," &c.
Now publishing, PART XI., price 1s., of
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.
IN TWENTY MONTHLY PARTS.
With Illustrations by MARCUS STONE.
London: CHAPMAN and HALL, 193, Piccadilly.

Just published, bound in cloth, price 5s. 6d.,
THE TWELFTH VOLUME,

The Right of Translating Articles from ALL THE YEAR, ROUND is reserved by the Authors.