yeing the chaplain with
rather a wicked look, burst into a laugh, which was, however, anything
but jovial. Wicked execrations, moreover, accompanied this outbreak of
humour, and the luckless chaplain felt that his petition had come at the
wrong moment.

"Confound it, why didn't you bring it on Monday?" Harry asked.

"Confound me, why did I not bring it on Monday?" echoed the chaplain's
timid soul. "It is my luck--my usual luck. Have the cards been against
you, Mr. Warrington?"

"Yes: a plague on them. Monday night, and last night, have both gone
against me. Don't be frightened, chaplain, there's money enough in the
locker yet. But I must go into the City and get some."

"What, sell out, sir?" asks his reverence, with a voice that was
reassured, though it intended to be alarmed.

"Sell out, sir? Yes! I borrowed a hundred off Mackreth in counters last
night, and must pay him at dinner-time. I will do your business for you
nevertheless, and never fear, my good Mr. Sampson. Come to breakfast
to-morrow, and we will see and deliver your reverence from the
Philistines." But though he laughed in Sampson's presence, and strove
to put a good face upon the matter, Harry's head sank down on his chest
when the parson quitted him, and he sate over the fire, beating the
coals about with the poker, and giving utterance to many disjointed
naughty words, which showed, but did not relieve, the agitation of his
spirit.

In this mood, the young fellow was interrupted by the appearance of a
friend, who, on any other day--even on that one when his conscience was
so uneasy--was welcome to Mr. Warrington. This was no other than Mr.
Lambert, in his military dress, but with a cloak over him, who had come
from the country, had been to the Captain-General's levee that morning,
and had come thence to visit his young friend in Bond Street.

Harry may have thought Lambert's greeting rather cold; but being
occupied with his own affairs, he put away the notion. How were the
ladies of Oakhurst, and Miss Hetty, who was ailing when he passed
through in the autumn? Purely? Mr. Warrington was very glad. They were
come to stay a while in London with their friend, Lord Wrotham? Mr.
Harry was delighted--though it must be confessed his face did not
exhibit any peculiar signs of pleasure when he heard the news.

"And so you live at White's, and with the great folks; and you fare
sumptuously every day, and you pay your court at St. James's, and make
one