t forget your
kittens, Jacobina;--you have four left--they must be provided for.
Why not a cat's children as well as a courtier's? I have got you a
comfortable home, Jacobina--take care of yourself, and don't fall in
love with every Tomcat in the place. Be sober, and lead a single life
till my return. Come, Jacobina, we will lock up the house, and go and
see the quarters I have provided for you.--Heigho!"

As he finished his harangue, the Corporal locked the door of his
cottage, and Jacobina trotting by his side, he stalked with his usual
stateliness to the Spotted Dog.

Dame Dorothy Dealtry received him with a clouded brow, but the man of
the world knew whom he had to deal with. On Wednesday morning Jacobina
was inducted into the comforts of the hearth of mine host;--and her four
little kittens mewed hard by, from the sinecure of a basket lined with
flannel.

Reader. Here is wisdom in this chapter: it is not every man who knows
how to dispose of his cat!

CHAPTER XII.

A STRANGE HABIT.--WALTER'S INTERVIEW WITH MADELINE.--HER
GENEROUS AND CONFIDING DISPOSITION.--WALTER'S ANGER.--THE
PARTING MEAL.--CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE UNCLE AND NEPHEW.--
WALTER ALONE.--SLEEP THE BLESSING OF THE YOUNG.

Fall. Out, out, unworthy to speak where he breatheth....

Punt. Well now, my whole venture is forth, I will resolve
to depart.
--Ben Jonson.--Every Man out of his Humour.

It was now the eve before Walter's departure, and on returning home from
a farewell walk among his favourite haunts, he found Aram, whose visit
had been made during Walter's absence, now standing on the threshold of
the door, and taking leave of Madeline and her father. Aram and Walter
had only met twice before since the interview we recorded, and each time
Walter had taken care that the meeting should be but of short duration.
In these brief encounters, Aram's manner had been even more gentle than
heretofore; that of Walter's, more cold and distant. And now, as they
thus unexpectedly met at the door, Aram, looking at him earnestly, said:

"Farewell, Sir! You are to leave us for some time, I hear. Heaven speed
you!" Then he added in a lower tone, "Will you take my hand, now, in
parting?"

As he said, he put forth his hand,--it was the left.

"Let it be the right hand," observed the elder Lester, smiling: "it is a
luckier omen."

"I think not," said Aram, drily. And Walter noted that he had nev