ning, if you
please."

"Japhet, what obligations I am under to you! Had it not been for you I
never should have known Cecilia; and more, were it not for your
kindness, I might perhaps lose her for ever."

"Not so, Harcourt; it was your own good feeling prompting you to find me
out, which introduced you to Cecilia, and I wish you joy with all my
heart. This is a strange world--who would have imagined that, in little
Fleta, I was picking up a wife for a man whose life I nearly took away?
I will ask my `Governor' for his carriage to-morrow, and will call and
take you up at your lodgings at two o'clock, if that hour will suit you.
I will tell you all that has passed since I absconded, when we are at
Lady de Clare's: one story will do for all."

Harcourt then took his leave, and I returned to my father, with whom I
found Lord Windermear.

"De Benyon, I am happy to see you again," said his lordship. "I have
just been giving a very good character of you to the general; I hope you
will continue to deserve it."

"I hope so too, my lord; I should be ungrateful, indeed, if I did not,
after my father's kindness to me."

Mr Masterton was then introduced: Lord Windermear shook hands with him,
and after a short conversation took his leave.

"Japhet," said Mr Masterton aside, "I have a little business with your
father; get out of the room any way you think best."

"There are but two ways, my dear sir," replied I, "the door or the
windows: with your permission, I will select the former, as most
agreeable;" so saying, I went to my own room. What passed between the
general and Mr Masterton I did not know until afterwards, but they were
closeted upwards of an hour, when I was sent for by Mr Masterton.

"Japhet, you said you would go with me to hear the new preacher; we have
no time to lose: so, general, I shall take my leave and run away with
your son."

I followed Mr Masterton into his carriage, and we drove to the lodging
of Mr Cophagus. Susannah was all ready, and Mr Masterton went up
stairs and brought her down. A blush and a sweet smile illumined her
features when she perceived me stowed away in the corner of the chariot.
We drove off, and somehow or another our hands again met, and did not
separate until we arrived at the church door. Susannah had the same
dress on as when she had accompanied me in my father's carriage. I went
through the responses with her, reading out of the same book, and I
never felt more inc