ory countenance, from which
he could extract nothing; the squire, looking as black as thunder in
his study at Hazeldean; his mother trying to plead for him, and
getting herself properly scolded for her pains; and then off went that
Will-o'-the-wisp which pretended to call itself Thought, and began
playing round the pale, charming face of Beatrice di Negra, in the
drawing-room at Curzon Street, and repeating, with small elfin voice,
Randal Leslie's assurance of the preceding day, "as to her affection for
you, Frank, there is no doubt of that; she only begins to think you are
trifling with her." And then there was a rapturous vision of a young
gentleman on his knee, and the fair pale face bathed in blushes, and
a clergyman standing by the altar, and a carriage-and-four with white
favours at the church-door; and of a honeymoon, which would have
astonished as to honey all the bees of Hymettus. And in the midst of
these phantasmagoria, which composed what Frank fondly styled, "making
up his mind," there came a single man's elegant rat-tat-tat at the
street door.

"One never has a moment for thinking," cried Frank, and he called out to
his valet, "Not at home."

But it was too late. Lord Spendquick was in the hall, and presently
within the room. How d'ye do's were exchanged and hands shaken.

LORD SPENDQUICK.--"I have a note for you, Hazeldean."

FRANK (lazily).--"From whom?"

LORD SPENDQUICK.--"Levy. Just come from him,--never saw him in such a
fidget. He was going into the city,--I suppose to see X. Y. Dashed off
this note for you, and would have sent it by a servant, but I said I
would bring it."

FRANK (looking fearfully at the note).--"I hope he does not want his
money yet. 'Private and confidential,'--that looks bad."

SPENDQUICK.--"Devilish bad, indeed."

Frank opens the note, and reads, half aloud, "Dear Hazeldean--"

SPENDQUICK (interrupting.)--"Good sign! He always Spendquicks me when he
lends me money; and 't is 'My dear Lord' when he wants it back. Capital
sign!"

Frank reads on, but to himself, and with a changing countenance,

DEAR HAZELDEAN,--I am very sorry to tell you that, in consequence of
the sudden failure of a house at Paris with which I Had large
dealings, I am pressed on a sudden for all the ready money I can
get. I don't want to inconvenience you, but do try to see if you
can take up those bills of yours which I hold, and which, as you
know, have been due some little ti