By the end of November Hilliard was well at work in the office of Messrs.

Birching, encouraged by his progress and looking forward as hopefully as a not very sanguine temperament would allow.

He lived penuriously, and toiled at professional study night as well as day.

Now and then he passed an evening with Robert Narramore, who had moved to cozy bachelor quarters a little distance out of town, in the Halesowen direction.

Once a week, generally on Saturday, he saw Eve.