CHAPTER XXX.
Many Years After.
Old Father Time is a stealthy worker.

In youth we are scarcely able to appreciate his efforts, and oftentimes think him an exceedingly slow and limping old fellow.

When we ripen into maturity, and are fighting our own way through the battle of life, we deem him swift enough of foot, and sometimes rather hurried; but when old age comes on, and death and the grave are foretold by trembling limbs and snowy locks, we wonder that our course has been so swiftly run, and chide old Time for a somewhat hasty and precipitate individual.
The reader must imagine that many years have passed away since the events narrated in the preceding chapters transpired, and permit us to re-introduce the characters formerly presented, without any attempt to describe how that long period has been occupied.
First of all, let us resume our acquaintance with Mr.Stevens.To effect this, we must pay that gentleman a visit at his luxurious mansion in Fifth Avenue, the most fashionable street of New York--the place where the upper ten thousand of that vast, bustling city most do congregate.

As he is an old acquaintance (we won't say friend), we will disregard ceremony, and walk boldly into the library where that gentleman is sitting.
He is changed--yes, sadly changed.

Time has been hard at work with him, and, dissatisfied with what his unaided agency could produce, has called in conscience to his aid, and their united efforts have left their marks upon him.