ing off the different items of which the grand total was to be composed; "yes, I think it could certainly be arranged for twelve thousand—an awful sum, sir-but he is rich and eager and reckless" (he kept looking at me over his spectacles), "and might be glad to purchase happiness even at that figure. On the whole, I would not suggest it to him. If he came to this firm, as a firm, I incline to think he might be repelled with heat; they might even decline farther relations; that would depend. The danger of suggesting it to him (our danger, that is) would be that he might privately arrange the collusion and then come to this firm, who, all unwitting of the mala fides, might give him the benefit of their vast experience in matrimonial causes. The firm could not be responsible for that. But if they discovered it after, it might probably produce a painful impression on them. I think perhaps it would be prudent to abandon your idea of suggesting

it to him ;" and he gave me one of his queer looks.

"Thank you for imputing it to me. I never dreamt of such a vile idea, and I am sure Captain Burridge would recoil from it, as I do being a gentleman."

"I am confident reflection would correct his first thought, as it has convinced you," said Mr Frowster, with much dejection in his voice. "There is nothing like honour. It is the watchword of this firm. I think we can say no more?"

"I think not. Good morning."

"Well,"

I found Burridge at the door. he cried, "have you settled anything?"

66

Nothing as yet; we must have patience. I'm not much taken with your legal adviser, Adolphus."

“No more am I; he's a horrid old prig." "Who recommended him to you?" "Oh! he used to do all the post-obit business for the regiment, but they've cut

him now for sending a writ to one of the fellows."

"I think we had better put your case into other hands;" for it struck me this intensely sensitive firm might easily get a free command of money from Adolphus, start the collusion scheme on their own account without his authority, and fatally compromise him. He was evidently one of those fellows born to be the football of fate, every new kick sending him into the clutches of some new and yet more rascally operator. So we agreed to transfer the business to the hands of my own lawyer, for whom I could vouch.

CHAPTER XIII.

"For suddenly a grievous sickness took him,

That makes him gasp and stare and catch the air."

"I know my physic will work with him.”

-Henry VI.

-Twelfth Night.

"It's time for luncheon now," said Burridge, as we left the lawyers'; "let's go to the Rag and feed there."

"I was thinking about my aunt,” I replied; "not that I can do any good about what we were talking of last night—I never could muster enough of brass for that; but I ought to go and see her, I think.”

"Let me go with you," said Adolphus ; "I would like to see your aunt; I'm rather a connoisseur in old ladies. She'll give us a good luncheon likely, and there's no saying

what may happen. I'm hungry and will eat freely-you shall be gloomy and refuse everything; if you're hungry, so much the better, it will make you pale; then you must sigh a good deal, and drink an immense lot of cold water; then break a few things, not expensive things-that might disgust her-perhaps groan a little and mutter something about your poor head. See? eh? That will fetch your aunt, or she is unworthy of the name. She'll say, 'What's the matter, Donald? It distresses me to see you in this state. Confide in me. What is it?' and you'll say, in a faint voice, 'Nothing, aunt-nothing; don't distress yourself about me; we all have our little troubles' and then try to look jolly for a moment, and talk about the opera, and then get worse and groan again, and break something more. Then your aunt is sure to write for an explanation, and you'll have it all out with her.

She'll settle a fortune on