ies--"I have not been well lately. I am
going to another country to try a change of scene and occupation. Miss
Halcombe has kindly assisted me with her influence, and my testimonials
have been found satisfactory. It is a long distance off, but I don't
care where I go, what the climate is, or how long I am away." He looked
about him while he said this at the throng of strangers passing us by
on either side, in a strange, suspicious manner, as if he thought that
some of them might be watching us.

"I wish you well through it, and safe back again," I said, and then
added, so as not to keep him altogether at arm's length on the subject
of the Fairlies, "I am going down to Limmeridge to-day on business.
Miss Halcombe and Miss Fairlie are away just now on a visit to some
friends in Yorkshire."

His eyes brightened, and he seemed about to say something in answer,
but the same momentary nervous spasm crossed his face again. He took
my hand, pressed it hard, and disappeared among the crowd without
saying another word. Though he was little more than a stranger to me,
I waited for a moment, looking after him almost with a feeling of
regret. I had gained in my profession sufficient experience of young
men to know what the outward signs and tokens were of their beginning
to go wrong, and when I resumed my walk to the railway I am sorry to
say I felt more than doubtful about Mr. Hartright's future.

IV

Leaving by an early train, I got to Limmeridge in time for dinner. The
house was oppressively empty and dull. I had expected that good Mrs.
Vesey would have been company for me in the absence of the young
ladies, but she was confined to her room by a cold. The servants were
so surprised at seeing me that they hurried and bustled absurdly, and
made all sorts of annoying mistakes. Even the butler, who was old
enough to have known better, brought me a bottle of port that was
chilled. The reports of Mr. Fairlie's health were just as usual, and
when I sent up a message to announce my arrival, I was told that he
would be delighted to see me the next morning but that the sudden news
of my appearance had prostrated him with palpitations for the rest of
the evening. The wind howled dismally all night, and strange cracking
and groaning noises sounded here, there, and everywhere in the empty
house. I slept as wretchedly as possible, and got up in a mighty bad
humour to breakfast by myself the next morning.

At ten o'clock I