rival, in this
yielding passively to the force of habit, which had ever constrained me
to plan my returns as "surprises" to my family and friends.

But for myself, I had fixed the day of my departure from Wallencamp, and,
in spite of the discovery made in regard to the insufficient state of my
finances, looked forward to that event without any trepidation, so that,
I remember--it was actually the day before the one fixed on, and still no
hope had dawned on the financial horizon,--when Grandma Keeler embraced
me with some tender words premonitory of our parting, I kissed her
gratefully, musing at the same time in dreamy, untroubled fashion: "Yes,
I must be going home to-morrow."

It was on this same day that we drove to "Wallen Town," Grandma and
Madeline and Becky and I. The excursion was one Grandma had planned
several weeks before, and I had no intention of making it the opportunity
which I finally did.

As we were passing a dingy-looking establishment, where some doubtful
articles of _virtu_ appeared in the window, an idea seized me, as new as
it was comprehensive of my difficulties.

I went in, ostensibly to purchase a watch-key, really to engage in
negotiations of a more serious and complicated nature. The proprietor of
the shop became the temporary guardian of my watch, while I was invested
with the funds necessary for my homeward journey. I learned, afterwards,
that this man had made an exception in the usually limited range of his
operations, in my favor, his establishment not being, by any means, that
of a pawnbroker, but, in every sense, of the most highly moral and
respectable nature.

He gave me such "ready cash" as his coffers would yield, with an
improvised pawnbroker's check, at the composition of which we had both
seriously and ingeniously labored. I can testify both to his honesty
and obligingness. He insisted on my taking with me, "jest to tell the
time o' day," a very large watch in a tarnished silver case.

Not wishing to seem to cast any disparagement on his wares, I became the
helpless recipient of this favor. The article in question was far too
large for my watch-pocket, and had a persistent habit of holding its
mouth wide open like a too weary shell-fish. On the interior of the case,
one on either side, were pasted photographs of individuals to me unknown,
male and female, their countenances such as the blinded eye of affection
alone, I thought, could have rendered mutually entertaining; an