riffin. But
those two fellows, why should they go up this morning? Evident that
they did not see the ladies, for they were out. No wonder Van takes to
making calls, seeing how I've neglected him and Flick. I wish Pratt
were here. Where did he go?"

"Thy slave obeys," said Pratt, who had approached unobserved upon the
soft turf! "Should you have liked Van to hear what you said just now?"

"No. Was I talking aloud?" said Trevor.

"You were, and very fast," was the reply.

"But what's the matter, Franky? What's the letter?"

And he pointed to an open missive in his friend's hand.

"It's about that I've come to you," said Pratt. "Read."

Trevor took the note, glanced over it, and found it was an invitation to
Mr Frank Pratt to dine at Tolcarne on the following Friday. This
brought Trevor's thoughts back to the letters Lloyd had given him, and
he hastily took them from his pocket, to find a similar invitation to
the one Pratt had had placed in his hand.

"That's lucky," he said, brightening.

"Lucky--why?" said Pratt.

"Because I want to go. But why are you looking so doleful?"

"Natural aspect, Dick. I only came to tell you I should not go."

"Not go! Why?"

"Because I am going back to town."

"Are you upset, Franky? Is anything wrong? I've been rude, I suppose,
and said something that put you out this morning."

"No--oh no!"

"But I'm sure that must have been it. But really, old fellow, I was
much obliged. Franky, you were quite right--it is as you say; so if I
said anything when I was hipped, forgive me."

"Dick, old fellow," cried Pratt, grasping the extended hand, "don't talk
of forgiveness to me. I have been here too long; this idle life don't
suit me, and I've got to work."

"Work, then, and help me through my troubles. I can't spare you."

"Dick, old fellow, I feel that I must go. Don't ask me why."

"No, I won't ask you why," said Trevor, eyeing him curiously; "but, to
oblige me, stay over this Friday, and go with me to the dinner."

Pratt hesitated a moment.

"Well, I will," he said; and the conversation ended.

During the intervening days Trevor was too much excited to say anything
to Mrs Lloyd. He called at Tolcarne twice, but the ladies were out.
He tried every walk in the neighbourhood, but without avail; and at
last, blaming himself bitterly for his neglect of his guests, and
thinking that the opportunity he sought must come on the Friday, he
determined to try