of
families whose alliance according to apparent calculations, would not
degrade his blood: and over these names, secretly preserved on an
open leaf of the note-book, Sir Austin, as he neared the metropolis,
distantly dropped his eye. There were names historic and names
mushroomic; names that the Conqueror might have called in his
muster-roll; names that had been, clearly, tossed into the upper stratum
of civilized lifer by a millwheel or a merchant-stool. Against them
the baronet had written M. or Po. or Pr.--signifying, Money, Position,
Principles, favouring the latter with special brackets. The wisdom of a
worldly man, which he could now and then adopt, determined him, before
he commenced his round of visits, to consult and sound his solicitor and
his physician thereanent; lawyers and doctors being the rats who know
best the merits of a house, and on what sort of foundation it may be
standing.

Sir Austin entered the great city with a sad mind. The memory of his
misfortune came upon him vividly, as if no years had intervened, and it
were but yesterday that he found the letter telling him that he had no
wife and his son no mother. He wandered on foot through the streets the
first night of his arrival, looking strangely at the shops and shows
and bustle of the world from which he had divorced himself; feeling as
destitute as the poorest vagrant. He had almost forgotten how to find
his way about, and came across his old mansion in his efforts to regain
his hotel. The windows were alight--signs of merry life within. He
stared at it from the shadow of the opposite side. It seemed to him he
was a ghost gazing upon his living past. And then the phantom which had
stood there mocking while he felt as other men--the phantom, now flesh
and blood reality, seized and convulsed his heart, and filled its
unforgiving crevices with bitter ironic venom. He remembered by the time
reflection returned to him that it was Algernon, who had the house at
his disposal, probably giving a card-party, or something of the sort. In
the morning, too, he remembered that he had divorced the world to wed a
System, and must be faithful to that exacting Spouse, who, now alone of
things on earth, could fortify and recompense him.

Mr. Thompson received his client with the dignity and emotion due to
such a rent-roll and the unexpectedness of the honour. He was a thin
stately man of law, garbed as one who gave audience to acred bishops,
and carrying on