ves down in the
country, and never was in a Gazette in his life. And now for _your_ side
of the medal--what is it like?"

"Nothing very gorgeous or brilliant, I assure you," said Loyd, gently;
for he spoke with a low quiet tone, and had a student-like submissive
manner, in strong contrast to the other's easy and assured air. "With
great abilities, great industry, and great connexion, the career is
a splendid one, and the rewards the highest. But between such golden
fortunes and mine there is a whole realm of space. However, with time
and hard work, and ordinary luck, I don't despair of securing a fair
livelihood."

"After--say--thirty years, eh?"

"Perhaps so."

"By the time that I drop out of the army a retired lieutenant-colonel,
with three hundred a year, you'll be in fair practice at Westminster,
with, let us take it, fifteen hundred, or two thousand--perhaps five."

"I shall be quite satisfied if I confirm the prediction in the middle of
it."

"Ah," continued the soldier. "There's only one road to success--to
marry a charming girl with money. Ashley of ours, who has done the thing
himself, says that you can get money--any man can, if he will; that,
in fact, if you will only take a little trouble you may have all the
attractions you seek for in a wife, plus fortune."

"Pleasant theory, but still not unlikely to involve a self-deception,
since, even without knowing it, a man may be far more interested by the
pecuniary circumstance."

"Don't begin with it; first fall in love--I mean to yourself, without
betraying it--and then look after the settlement. If it be beneath your
expectation, trip your anchor, and get out of the reach of fire."

"And you may pass your best years in that unprofitable fashion, not to
say what you may find yourself become in the meanwhile." The soldier
looked at the other askance, and there was in his sidelong glance a sort
of irony that seemed to say, "Oh! you're an enthusiast, are you?"

"There you have me, Loyd," said he, hurriedly: "that is the weak point
of my whole system; but remember, after all, do what one will, he can't
be as fresh at five-and-thirty as five-and-twenty--he will have added
ten years of distrusts, doubts, and dodges to his nature in spite of
himself."

"If they must come in spite of himself, there is no help for it; but let
him at least not deliberately lay a plan to acquire them."

"One thing is quite clear," said the other, boldly: "the change will
co