grief if you hang on."

Cutbill attended to the admonition, and bidding the travellers good-bye,
returned slowly to the Bramleighs' lodgings, pondering over all he had
heard, and canvassing with himself how much of his unpleasant tidings he
would venture to relate.

"Where 's your map?" said he, entering. "I suspect I can make out the
place now. Show me the Adriatic. Zara--Lissa--what a number of islands!
Here you are; here's Bocca di Cattaro--next door to the Turks, by Jove."

"My dear Gusty, don't think of this, I beseech you," said Nelly,
whispering. "It is enough to see where it is, to know it must be utter
barbarism."

"I won't say it looks inviting," said Cutbill, as he bent over the map,
"and the messenger had n't much to say in its praise, either."

"Probably not; but remember what you told me awhile ago, Mr. Cutbill,
that even this was better than depending on my little talents."

"He holds little talents in light esteem, then?" said Ellen, tartly.

"That's exactly what I do," rejoined Cutbill, quickly. "As long as you
are rich enough to be courted for your wealth, your little talents will
find plenty of admirers; but as to earning your bread by them, you
might as well try to go round the Cape in an outrigger. Take it, by all
means,--take it, if it is only to teach you what it is to earn your own
dinner."

"And is my sister to face such a life as this?"

"Your sister has courage for everything--but leaving you," said she,
throwing her arm on his shoulder.

"I must be off. I have only half an hour left to pack my portmanteau and
be at the station. One word with you alone, Bramleigh," said he, in a
low tone, and Augustus walked at once into the adjoining room.

"You want some of these, I 'm certain," said Cutbill, as he drew forth
a roll of crushed and crumpled bank-notes, and pressed them into
Bramleigh's hand. "You 'll pay them back at your own time; don't look so
stiff, man, it's only a loan."

"I assure you if I look stiff, it's not what I feel. I 'm overwhelmed by
your good-nature; but, believe me, I 'm in no want of money."

"Nobody ever is; but it's useful, all the same. Take them to oblige me.
Take them just to show you 're not such a swell as won't accept even the
smallest service from a fellow like me--do now, do!" and he looked so
pleadingly that it was not easy to refuse him.

"I 'm very proud to think I have won such friendship; but I give you my
word I have ample means for all that