s undeniably a dull evening. All the talking fell to
the share of Mr. Vanstone and Miss Garth. Mrs. Vanstone was habitually
silent; Norah kept herself obstinately in the background; Magdalen was
quiet and undemonstrative beyond all former precedent. From first to
last, she kept rigidly on her guard. The few meaning looks that she cast
on Frank flashed at him like lightning, and were gone before any one
else could see them. Even when she brought him his tea; and when, in
doing so, her self-control gave way under the temptation which no woman
can resist--the temptation of touching the man she loves--even then,
she held the saucer so dexterously that it screened her hand. Frank's
self-possession was far less steadily disciplined: it only lasted as
long as he remained passive. When he rose to go; when he felt the warm,
clinging pressure of Magdalen's fingers round his hand, and the lock of
her hair which she slipped into it at the same moment, he became awkward
and confused. He might have betrayed Magdalen and betrayed himself, but
for Mr. Vanstone, who innocently covered his retreat by following
him out, and patting him on the shoulder all the way. "God bless you,
Frank!" cried the friendly voice that never had a harsh note in it for
anybody. "Your fortune's waiting for you. Go in, my boy--go in and win."

"Yes," said Frank. "Thank you. It will be rather difficult to go in and
win, at first. Of course, as you have always told me, a man's business
is to conquer his difficulties, and not to talk about them. At the same
time, I wish I didn't feel quite so loose as I do in my figures. It's
discouraging to feel loose in one's figures.--Oh, yes; I'll write and
tell you how I get on. I'm very much obliged by your kindness, and very
sorry I couldn't succeed with the engineering. I think I should have
liked engineering better than trade. It can't be helped now, can it?
Thank you, again. Good-by."

So he drifted away into the misty commercial future--as aimless, as
helpless, as gentleman-like as ever.

CHAPTER IX.

THREE months passed. During that time Frank remained in London; pursuing
his new duties, and writing occasionally to report himself to Mr.
Vanstone, as he had promised.

His letters were not enthusiastic on the subject of mercantile
occupations. He described himself as being still painfully loose in his
figures. He was also more firmly persuaded than ever--now when it was
unfortunately too late--that he preferred