rhaps be completed and bear fruit in
another world; perhaps be left on earth to work into the grand
economy of progress--not wholly useless in any case. But at
four or five and twenty, in spite of some failures and
disappointments, the treasure of existence to an honest, frank
heart, still seems inexhaustible as it is inestimable. The
contrast between the future Graham looked forward to, full of
hopes and ambitions, and this past whose history he could
guess at, and whose results he contemplated, forced itself
upon him, and an immense compassion filled the young man's
heart at the sight of this wasted life, of this wayward mind,
lighted up with the sudden, passionate gleams of tenderness
for his child, the one pure affection perhaps that survived to
witness to what had been--a great compassion, an honest,
wondering pity for this man who had thus recklessly squandered
his share of the common birth right. Ah! which of us, standing
on safe shores, and seeing, as all must see at times, the sad
wreck of some shattered life cast up by the troubled waves at
our feet, does not ask himself, in no supercilious spirit,
surely, but with an awe-struck humility, "Who or what hath
made thee to differ?"

Perhaps, as M. Linders lay there, he also preached to himself
a little sermon, after his own peculiar fashion, for when, at
the end of half an hour, he once more aroused himself, all
signs of agitation had disappeared, and it was with a perfect
calmness that he continued the conversation. Graham could not
but admire this composure in the man whom but just now he had
seen shaken with passion and exhausted with conflicting
emotions; whom indeed he had had to help, and judge for, and
support in his hour of weakness and suffering; whilst now M.
Linders had resumed his air of calm superiority as the man of
the world, which seemed at once to repel and forbid support
and sympathy from the youth and inexperience at his side.

"You are right, Monsieur," he said, breaking the silence
abruptly, and speaking in a clear, though feeble voice,
"Madelon must go her aunt. Did I understand you to say you
would take charge of her to Liege?"

"I will certainly," said Graham; "if----"

"I am exceedingly indebted to you," said M. Linders, "but I am
afraid such a journey may interfere with your own plans."

"Not in the least," replied Graham. "I am only travelling for
amusement, and have no one to consult but myself."

"Ah--well, I shall not inter