rst name that occurred to him, and he heard the men
chuckling together as he fled. After this he walked up and down the
long, accursed length of Harley Street, on the dark side of the way, no
less than seven mortal times; until, twice passing the same policeman,
his sapience began to eye the wild-faced youth with disfavour. Then he
made a tour, east, south, west, north, round the block in which Lady
Charlton's house stands, and so came round to the door once more.

Yet it was clearly impossible to present himself there now, after his
folly. It was also too late--or he thought it so. On the other hand, it
was too early to go home. Mrs. Browne had said she should not expect to
hear he was in before two or three. On this account he dared not return,
for never, never would he confess to her the depths of his cowardice! He
therefore continued street-walking with treadmill regularity, cold,
hungry, and deadly dull.

But when twelve was gone on the church clocks, he could endure it no
longer. He turned and slunk home. Delicately did he insert the key in
the door; most mouse-like did he creep in; and yet someone heard him.
Lily, with flying locks, looked over the balusters, and then ran
noiselessly down to the hall.

"Oh, Teddy, I couldn't go to bed for thinking of your party and how much
you must be enjoying yourself! But what is the matter? You look
so--funny!"

Somehow Everett found himself telling her the whole story, and never
perhaps has humiliated mortal found a kinder little comforter. Far from
laughing at him, as he may have deserved, tears filled her pretty eyes
at the recital of his unfortunate evening, and no amount of petting was
deemed too much. She took him to the drawing-room, where she had
hitherto been sitting unplaiting her hair; stirred the fire into a
brighter blaze, wheeled him up the easiest couch, and, signal proof of
feminine heroism, braved the kitchen beetles to get him something to
eat.

What a delightful impromptu picnic she spread out upon the sofa! How
capital was the cold beef and pickles, the gruyere cheese, the bottled
beer! How they laughed and enjoyed themselves, always with due
consideration not to disturb the sleepers above. How Everett, with the
audacity born of the swing back of the pendulum, seized upon this
occasion to--

But no! I did not undertake to give further developments; these must
stand over to another time.

LEGEND OF AN ANCIENT MINSTER.

I.

Fairchester A