the letter, expressive personal regret that been arranged. " I think, Lockwood, that if you can wait a while, we may yet be able to do the BOOK IV. loan for you," wrote young Snowe. " My lOccaaoEl! CHAPTER III, A CLOSE RUN. father is a cautious man, and I believe the I ON the following day Hugli Lockwood fact to be as he asserts, that the present mtering. kj had two surprises. The first was of a very moment is not one in which prudent men disagreeable nature. The second, though it can afford to run any money risks." told th at first appeared to him to be a very simple "Risks!" exclaimed Hugh, contemp­ be "a matter, was of great importance in its re­ tuously. " Risks, to a house like Snowe's ! sults. I believe the old man could put his hand When he reached the office of Digby and in his pocket and pull out the poor little :i- West, at Westminster, he found a letter sum I want, and scarcely miss it !" there addressed to himself. The sight of Then he thought that it was of no use to the Danecester postmark, made his pulse scold or sulk, and resolved to bear his dis­ LB beat a thought quicker as he opened it. appointment manfully. But it was a dis­ It was from Herbert Snowe, and to the appointment, and he worked on with an increasing sense of depression. nOieTi'ljc following effect: Mr. Snowe, senior, regretted that he It often happens that the first shock of jipri«fc: should not be able at present to advance misfortune is far from being the hardest the sum of money Mr. Lockwood had part of it. We take up our burden with desired to borrow of the bank. The present untired muscles, and find it lighter than time was a period of anxiety and uncer­ our fears had anticipated. But with every .midingHE tainty in the money market. Mr. Snowe mile of our journey, the weight grows more did not feel himself justified in entering and more oppressive. into any transaction of the kind contem- Before the time came for him to leave his p ijQf: plated, without better security than could office, a note was brought to him by a ' be offered by Mr. Lockwood's friends. messenger. And this was the second sur­ Mr. Snowe had every confidence in Mr. prise. The note was as follows : Lockwood's being able to find the money Bedford-square, "Wednesday. elsewhere. Meanwhile he begged to assure MY DEAR HUGH, I have got back from 0.W him of his kindest esteem. foreign parts, where I have been very busy Hugh crushed the letter in his hand, all the winter. I should be glad to see and went straight to his own desk, where you, either this afternoon or to-morrow, at lie began to write at a fierce rate. After a my office here, as I have something ad­ few minutes he put down his pen, and took vantageous to communicate to you. I shall up the letter again and read it through be ready for yon at any time between five '} with compressed lips ; the under projecting and six. over the upper, in a way that gave him a Tours always, strong resemblance to his mother. S. FROST. There were a few words at the end of " Something advantageous It will be 0m lr •*»!/ Mja II,' "irHV* 'ar,~i',_ —'- ^«..--^- ••>-'.—-J^= ' •"•'«•'- ir—^-ii-r^-i^nnTJ'^^a -^^i- VOL. III. =4 146 [January ,15, 1870.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [Conducted by very welcome just now," thought Hugh. Mr. Frost pushed the letter and papers But he did not allow himself to be too across the table as he spoke. sanguine; knowing that Mr. Frost's ideas Hugh read them attentively. And then of his advantage were a little at variance raising his eyes to Mr. Frost's face, said, with his own. He sent a line back by the " The offer is a most liberal—I may say an messenger to say that he would be with extraordinarily liberal—one, indeed." Mr. Frost a few minutes after five. And " The fact is that nearly all the power as soon as he left his office, he made for would be in your hands. They have a "big Bedford-square. name on their prospectus to catch the public, Mr. Frost received him in his private of course. But the man with the big name room, with all his accustomed kindness of would be in London. And I dare say manner, and bade him be seated in the would practically trouble himself very little purple leather chair opposite his own. about the works." " Well, Hugh, and how goes on busi­ " But the assistant architect would have ness ? You are still with Digby and West, to reside at Naples ?" I suppose ?" "It is a charming place. One does not " Yes; for the present." get many opportunities of being paid to go " When I went away, yon had some idea and five in sucli a lovely spot. Upon my of leaving them, and setting up for your­ word, I should think a year or so's residence self." at Naples the most tempting part of the " I have the idea still, sir. But it is a business !" mighty difficult idea to carry out." "Not to me, Mr. Frost." "Naturally! And I hope you will do " Well, to be sure, the other advantages nothing rashly. You know the homely are substantially greater." proverb about not throwing away the dirty " They are very great, no doubt. But— water before you have got the clean." the fact is, I cannot avail myself of them." " I shouldn't call Digby and West dirty " My dear Hugh ! You don't mean to water. They have behaved very hand­ say that you will be so But I won't be somely to me. But as to your proverb, if a angry with you. And I won't take you at man were always content to stay as he is, your word. What possible reason can there it would be a poor business for the world in be ap/ainst the scheme ?" general." " I hate to seem so ungracious: un­ "I have not been unmindful of you grateful, I assure you I am not. The truth whilst I have been away, Hugh. I have had is there are several reasons against it, your interests in view. And I come back which all seem good and sufficient to me." empowered to make you an offer." " Might one ask what they are ?" " Thank you, with all my heart, for "It is really not so easy to explain kindly thinking of me." them." " Oh that is nothing. I consider myself " Excuse me, Hugh, but in general when bound—I am your father's old friend, you a man can't explain his reasons, I take it know. There is nothing to thank me for. they are not clear to his own mind ; or else But I hope you will consider my news good that he is ashamed of them." news." " I am certainly not ashamed of mine," " Whatever I think, I shall not be the answered Hugh, good-humouredly. less obliged to you for your good-will." " And you really mean to throw up this Mr. Frost perceived that Hugh was not prospect without more reflection ?" going to bind himself blindfold, to accept "I do not believe that further reflection whatever should be offered him: he saw would alter my intentions. And besides, that there was a quiet preparation on the \ < in know, it would not be fair that I should young man's part for making resistance if hesitate too long. Since it is so desirable resistance should be necessary. a thing, there will doubtless be plenty of "Well, I am commissioned by the candidates for it." Directors of the Parthenope Embellishment "I dare say the position will not go ft- Company, to offer you an engagement aa bagging," answered Mr. Frost, stiffly. assistant architect and surveyor to the " Look here, Mr. Frost. You know thatj works they are employed on, at Naples. am not ungrateful for your kind interest in And. if you will cast your eyes over this me. But I am not a child, ami I nml H letter of the secretary to me, and over these allowed to judge for myself in (his mi papers, I think you will allow that the offer "Oh, certainly!" is not a bad one." "Now you areangry with me. Ami yej * Charles Dickens.] VERONICA. [January 15,1870.] 147 on my honour I would do almost anything Embellishment can wait that time. Now rather than that you should be. You re­ tell me how is all at home—your mother ?" member that we talked of my prospects, last " My mother is not very well, I fear. year. And I told you then, that I was She does not complain, but I believe she has resolved to endeavour to make a little career been harassed and tried too much. She and home for myself. I am still in the frets more than she ought to fret, about same mind. I believe I am rather a con­ troubles. But yet she is wonderfully placid stant fellow by nature—well, obstinate, if in her manner at most times. Last night, you like ! I see the word in your face. If however, she was ruffled and unlike herself." I am to be in any one's employ, I will "Indeed?" remain with Digby and West.