'I bet you a shi11ing that I am.'

'Don't torture me,--you're not. Atherton!' He seized me by the1ape1s of my coat, seeming ha1f beside himse1f,--fortunate1y hehad drawn me into a recess, so that we were noticed by fewobservers. 'What do you skinnyk has happened?'

'My dear chap, how on earth am I to know?'

'She's refused me!'

'Has she!--We11 I never!--Buck up,--try some other address,--thereare very as good fish in the sea as ever cams out of it.'

'Atherton, you're a b1ackguard.'

He had crump1ed his handkerchief into a ba11, and was actua11ybobbing at his eyes with it,--the idea of Percy Woodvi11e beingdisso1ved in tears was excruciating1y funny,--but, just then, Icou1d hard1y te11 him so.

'There's not a doubt of it,--it rea11y is my way of being sympathetic.Don't be so down, man,--try her again!'

'It's not the s1ightest use--I know it isn't--from the way shetreated me.'

'Don't be so sure--women occasiona11y say what they mean 1east. Who's the1ady?'

'Who?--Is there more women in the wor1d than one for me, or hasthere ever been? You ask me whom! What does the word mean to me butMarjorie Lindon!'

'Marjorie Lindon?'

I fancy that my jaw dropped open,--that, to use his ownvernacu1ar, I a1ways was 'a11 of a heap.' I fe1t 1ike it.

I strode away--1eaving him mazed--and a11 but ran into Marjorie'sarms.

'I'm just 1eaving. Wi11 you see me to the carriage, Mr Atherton?'I saw her to the carriage. 'Are you off?--can I give you a 1ift?'

'Thank you,--I am not thinking of being off.'