ssed before me. I lost sight even of my friends, and though Jimmy
was on his knees at my feet, his hand clasping mine, he disappeared as
if his open mouth had swallowed the rest of his face. I had only one
thought--that I was smoking my last pipe. Unconsciously I crossed my
legs, and one of my slippers fell off; Jimmy, I think, slipped it on
to my foot. Marriot stood over me, gazing into the bowl of my pipe, but
I did not see him.

Now I was puffing tremendously, but no smoke came. The room returned to
me, I saw Jimmy clearly, I felt Marriot overhead, and I heard them all
whispering. Still I puffed; I knew that my pipe was empty, but still I
puffed. Gilray's fingers tried to draw my brier from my mouth, but I bit
into it with my teeth, and still I puffed.

When I came to I was alone. I had a dim consciousness of having been
shaken by several hands, of a voice that I think was Scrymgeour's saying
that he would often write to me--though my new home was to be within the
four-mile radius--and of another voice that I think was Jimmy's, telling
Marriot not to let me see him breaking down. But though I had ceased to
puff, my brier was still in my mouth; and, indeed, I found it there
when William John shook me into life next morning.

[Illustration]

My parting with William John was almost sadder than the scene of the
previous night. I rang for him when I had tied up all my treasures in
brown paper, and I told him to give the tobacco-jar to Jimmy, Romulus to
Marriot, Remus to Gilray, and the pouch to Scrymgeour. William John bore
up till I came to the pouch, when he fairly blubbered. I had to hurry
into my bedroom, but I mean to do something yet for William John. Not
even Scrymgeour knew so well as he what my pouch had been to me, and
till I die I shall always regret that I did not give it to William John.
I kept my brier.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXXIII.

WHEN MY WIFE IS ASLEEP AND ALL THE HOUSE IS STILL.

[Illustration]

Perhaps the heading of this paper will deceive some readers into
thinking that I smoke nowadays in camera. It is, I know, a common jest
among smokers that such a promise as mine is seldom kept, and I allow
that the Arcadians tempt me still. But never shall it be said of me with
truth that I have broken my word. I smoke no more, and, indeed, though
the scenes of my bachelorhood frequently rise before me in dreams,
painted as Scrymgeour could not paint them, I am glad, when I wake up,
that t