ch an article
just at present, and had not time to go so far to-day, and then I came
here instead. Oh, he's in no end of a rage, I know."

"And your remarks would not tend to soothe him much either," said I.
"Oaklands has just been telling him he does not mean to play billiards
again."

"Phew!" whistled Coleman, "that was a lucky shot of mine; I fancied it
must have been something about ~76~~Oaklands and billiards that had gone
wrong, when I saw how savage it made him. I like to _rile_ Cumberland
sometimes, because he's always so soft and silky; he seems afraid of
getting into a good honest rage, lest he should let out something he
does not want one to know. I hate such extreme caution; it always makes
me think there must be something very wrong to be concealed, when people
are so mighty particular."

"You are not quite a fool after all, Freddy," said Oaklands,
encouragingly.

"Thank ye for nothing, Harry Longlegs," replied Coleman,--skipping
beyond the reach of Oaklands' arm. A few mornings after this
conversation took place Oaklands, who was sitting in the recess of the
window (from which he had ejected Lawless on the memorable evening of
his arrival), called me to him, and asked in a low tone of voice whether
I should mind calling at the billiard-rooms when I went out, and paying
a month's subscription which he owed there. He added that he did not
like going himself, for fear of meeting Cumberland or the Captain, as if
they pressed him to play, and he refused (which he certainly should do),
something disagreeable might occur, which it was quite as well to avoid.
In this I quite agreed, and willingly undertook the commission. While we
were talking Thomas came into the room with a couple of letters, one of
which he gave to Oaklands, saying, it had just come by the post, while
he handed the other to Cumberland, informing him that the gentleman who
brought it was waiting for an answer. I fancied that Cumberland changed
colour slightly when his eye fell upon the writing. After rapidly
perusing the note, he crushed it in his hand, and flung it into the
fire, saying:--

"My compliments to the gentleman, and I'll be with him at the time he
mentions".

"Well, this _is_ kind of my father," exclaimed Oaklands, looking up with
a face beaming with pleasure; "after writing me the warmest and most
affectionate letter possible, he sends me an order for three hundred
pounds upon his banker, telling me always to apply to him w