hich he can do
without hurting himself. That is all; and very simple."

"Too simple," said Winthrop.

"What do you mean?"

"What are you going to do when you come here?"

"Look after my in-comings; and I shall probably go into Haye's
office and rub up my arithmetic in the earlier branches. What
are _you_ going to do?"

"I am going to the office, -- Mr. De Wort's."

"What to do there, Governor?"

"Read, write, and record, law and lawpapers."

"Always at the same thing!"

"Always."

"Seems a slow way of getting ahead."

"It's sure," said Winthrop.

"_You_ are sure, I believe, of whatever you undertake. By the
way -- have you undertaken the other adventure yet?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"The adventure we were talking about. -- The heiress."

"I can adventure nothing upon speculation," said Winthrop.

"Then you have not had a chance to carry out your favourite
idea of obligation. Do you know, I never should have suspected
you of having such an idea."

"Shews how much we go upon speculation even with our nearest
friends," said Winthrop.

"And how speculation fails there as elsewhere. What a fool
Haye has made of himself!"

"In what?"

"Why, in this match."

"What has he done?"

"Done! why he has done _it_. Enough, I should think. I wish his
folly stood alone."

"How do you know he has done it?"

"He told me so himself. I met him as I came along just now;
and he told me he was to be married to-morrow and would attend
to my business next day."

"Told you _who_ would?"

"He. Himself. Haye."

"Told you he was to be married?"

"Yes. Who else?"

"To whom?"

"Why! -- to his niece -- ward -- what is she? Rose Cadwallader."

"_Mr._ Haye and Miss Cadwallader!" said Winthrop.

"To be sure. What are you thinking of? What have we been
talking about?"

"You know best," said Winthrop. "My informant had brought
another person upon the stage."

"Who?"

"A Mr. Cadwallader."

"There's no such thing as a Mr. Cadwallader. It's Haye
himself; and it only shews how all a man's wisdom may be
located in one quarter of his brain and leave the other
empty."

"To-morrow?" said Winthrop.

"Yes; and you and I are invited to pay our respects at eleven.
Haven't you had an invitation?"

"I don't know -- I have been out of town -- and for the present
I must pay my respects in another direction. I must leave you,
Will."

"Look here. What's the matter with you, Winthrop?"

"Nothing at all,"