ng of its meaning: _Tempora mutantur et nos mutamur
in illis_.

He reached the Shades a few minutes before seven, and waited outside
till his friend arrived. He had not to wait long, for Blandford and a
couple of companions drove up punctually in a hansom--all of them, to
Reginald's horror, being arrayed in full evening dress.

"Hullo, Cruden, you've turned up then," said Blandford. "What, not in
regimentals? You usen't to be backward in that way. Never mind; they
say dress after seven o'clock here, but they're not strict. We can
smuggle you in."

Oh, how Reginald wished he was safe back in Dull Street!

"By the way," continued Blandford, "these are two friends of mine,
Cruden--Mr Shanklin and Mr Pillans. Cruden's an old Wilderham fellow,
you know," he added, in an explanatory aside.

The gentleman introduced as Mr Shanklin stared curiously at Reginald
for a few seconds, and then shook hands. Had the boy known as much of
that gentleman as the reader does, he would probably have displayed
considerably more interest in his new acquaintance than he did. As it
was, he would have been glad of an excuse to avoid shaking hands with
either him or his empty-headed companion, Mr Pillans. He went through
the ceremony as stiffly as possible, and then followed the party within.

"Now, then," said Blandford, as they sat down at one of the tables,
"what do you say? It'll save trouble to take the table d'hote, eh? are
you game, you fellows? Table d'hote for four, waiter. What shall we
have to drink? I say hock to start with."

"I wont take any wine," said Reginald, with an effort.

"Why not? You're not a teetotaler, are you?"

"I won't take any wine," repeated Reginald decisively; and, to his
satisfaction, he was allowed to do as he pleased.

The dinner passed as such entertainments usually do, diminishing in
interest as it went on. In his happiest days, Reginald always hated
what the boys used to call "feeds," and he found that three months'
altered circumstances had by no means reconciled him to the infliction.
He shirked the last two or three courses, and grew heartily tired of the
sight of a plate.

"You wondered how I came to be in town?" said Blandford. "The fact is,
my uncle went off the hooks a few weeks ago, and as I'm his heir, you
know, I came up, and haven't gone back yet. I don't think I shall
either."

"No; what's the use, with the pot of money you've come in for?" said Mr
Shanklin. "You'r