f safe, as
'autrefois acquit;' but they found him guilty at the Old
Bailey, and----him. There's delicacy for you, after
your own heart"

Calvert smiled grimly at his friend's pleasantry. "Here is enough
trouble for any man to deal with. Duns, outlawry, and a criminal
prosecution!" said he, as he replaced his letter in its envelope, and
lighted his cigar. He had not been many minutes in the enjoyment of his
weed, when he saw Miss Grainger coming hastily towards him. "I wish that
old woman would let me alone, just now!" muttered he. "I have need of
all my brains for my own misfortunes."

"It has turned out just as I predicted, Mr. Calvert," said she,
pettishly. "Young Loyd is furious at having his pretensions referred
to you, and will not hear of it. His letter to Florence is all but
reproachful, and she has gone home with her eyes full of tears. This
note for you came as an enclosure."

Calvert took the note from her hands, and laying it beside him on the
rock, smoked on without speaking.

"I knew everything that would happen!" said Miss Grainger. "The old man
gave the letter you wrote to his son, who immediately sat down and wrote
to Florry. I have not seen the letter myself, but Milly declares that
it goes so far as to say, that if Florry admits of any advice or
interference on your part, it is tantamount to a desire to break off the
engagement. He declares, however, that he neither can nor will believe
such a thing to be possible. That he knows she is ignorant of the whole
intrigue. Milly assures me that was the word, intrigue; and she read it
twice over to be certain. He also says something, which I do not quite
understand, about my being led beyond the bounds of judgment by what he
calls a traditional reverence for the name you bear--but one thing is
plain enough, he utterly rejects the reference to you, or, indeed, to
anyone now but Florence herself, and says, 'This is certainly a case for
your own decision, and I will accept of none other than yours.'"

"Is there anything more about me than you have said?" asked Calvert,
calmly.

"No, I believe not He begs, in the postscript, that the enclosed note
may be given to you, that's all."

Calvert took a long breath; he felt as if a weight had been removed from
his heart, and he smoked on in silence.

"Won't you read it?" cried she, eagerly. "I am burning to hear what he
says."

"I can tell you just as well without breaking the seal," said