.'

'He is particularly engaged.'

'I know it, and, therefore, I must see him. Take in my card, and he
will not refuse me.' A new vista had opened itself before him.

He was ushered into a private room: and, as he waited for the
banker, he breathed a prayer. For what? That his own will might be
done--a very common style of petition.

Mr. Smith entered, hurried and troubled. He caught the vicar
eagerly by the hand, as if glad to see a face which did not glare on
him with the cold selfish stamp of 'business,' and then drew back
again, afraid to commit himself by any sign of emotion.

The vicar had settled his plan of attack, and determined boldly to
show his knowledge of the banker's distress.

'I am very sorry to trouble you at such an unfortunate moment, sir,
and I will be brief; but, as your nephew's spiritual pastor--' (He
knew the banker was a stout Churchman.)

'What of my nephew, sir! No fresh misfortunes, I hope?'

'Not so much misfortune, sir, as misconduct--I might say frailty--
but frailty which may become ruinous.'

'How? how? Some mesalliance?' interrupted Mr. Smith, in a peevish,
excited tone. 'I thought there was some heiress on the tapis--at
least, so I heard from my unfortunate son, who has just gone over to
Rome. There's another misfortune.--Nothing but misfortunes; and
your teaching, sir, by the bye, I am afraid, has helped me to that
one.'

'Gone over to Rome?' asked the vicar, slowly.

'Yes, sir, gone to Rome--to the pope, sir! to the devil, sir! I
should have thought you likely to know of it before I did!'

The vicar stared fixedly at him a moment, and burst into honest
tears. The banker was moved.

''Pon my honour, sir, I beg your pardon. I did not mean to be rude,
but--but--To be plain with a clergyman, sir, so many things coming
together have quite unmanned me. Pooh, pooh,' and he shook himself
as if to throw off a weight; and, with a face once more quiet and
business-like, asked, 'And now, my dear sir, what of my nephew?'

'As for that young lady, sir, of whom you spoke, I can assure you,
once for all, as her clergyman, and therefore more or less her
confidant, that your nephew has not the slightest chance or hope in
that quarter.'

'How, sir? You will not throw obstacles in the way?'

'Heaven, sir, I think, has interposed far more insuperable
obstacles--in the young lady's own heart--than I could ever have
done. Your nephew's charact