Guly, I
was by your side, looking over with you the pages of the Holy Word, and
kneeling to Him who bids us obey it."

"True, Arthur; but the night has seemed to me almost interminable. It is
very lonely without you, Arthur."

"I am not sorry you miss me, Guly; it seems to whisper of so much love;
and your love is very dear to me. Remember what I told you the other
night upon the step, and always try to feel this affection for me."

"Always, Arthur."

"There is a terrible weight upon my spirits this morning," added the
elder brother, speaking huskily; "I have never felt such a heaviness of
heart before. All that was ever bright in my past life, comes up to my
memory with a pall wrapped around it, and the future shows no fairer
scene. In truth, I have witnessed more vice since I parted from you,
Guly, than I have ever imagined the world contained."

"Don't you feel ill, Arthur? If you will lie down, I will see that your
place is taken care of."

"No, Guly, I am getting used to it; I require no rest now; and I may as
well bear up, after a night's dissipation, first as last."

"I beg you, Arthur, not to talk in this way. Surely you do not mean to
continue this course; you will not, you cannot, I am sure. What would I
ever do, dear brother, left utterly alone and friendless here?"

"My poor Guly! alas, I dare not promise myself to make another attempt
to do better; my pride is my misfortune; and I feel as if the hopes and
promises of all my young life were dead. I am wretched, wretched!"

At this moment Quirk entered the store; and as Arthur looked up, he
caught the leer of significant meaning, sent from a quick wink of the
eye, and a momentary elongation of the visage, of his late companion.

He smiled in return, but at the same moment blushed deeply, as if
ashamed to be seen exchanging significant glances with such a being. He
also gently withdrew the arm which was about his brother, and moved a
little away from him. The clerks now began rapidly to fill their
respective places, and the brothers started forth, accompanied by
Wilkins, to the restaurant. Wilkins observed, that at breakfast Arthur
helped himself freely to claret, and drank heartily, as if to satisfy a
burning thirst. He made no remark upon it, however, and the meal was
altogether a sad and silent one. All were reflecting upon the events of
the past night, a subject which each felt a peculiar sensitiveness about
broaching, and with the mere table c