I wish you success and plenty! Farewell, gentlemen!" "Do you leave us already ?" cried Tomlinson.

"You are offended." "Surely not!" answered Clifford, retreating to the door.

"But an engagement elsewhere, you know!" "Ay, I take you," said Tomlinson, following Clifford out of the room, and shutting the door after him.

"Ay, I take you!" added he, in a whisper, as he arrested Clifford at the head of the stairs.

"But tell me, how do you get on with the heiress ?" Smothering that sensation at his heart which made Clifford, reckless as he was, enraged and ashamed, whenever through the lips of his comrades there issued any allusion to Lucy Brandon, the chief replied: "I fear, Tomlinson, that I am already suspected by the old squire! All of a sudden he avoids me, shuts his door against me; Miss Brandon goes nowhere, and even if she did, what could I expect from her after this sudden change in the father ?" Tomlinson looked blank and disconcerted.