dashing with a sense of shame every successful step towards fame and
honor.

"Maybe he's right after all," muttered Billy to himself. "The New World
is the only place for those who have not the roots of an ancient stock
to hold them in the Old. Men can be there whatever is in them, and they
can be judged without the prejudices of a class."

Having summed up, as it were, his own doubts in this remark, he
proceeded with his task. While he was thus occupied, Massy entered, and
threw himself into a chair.

"There, you may give it up, Traynor. Fate is ever against us, do and
decide on what we will. Your confounded omen of a Friday was right this
time."

"What do you mean? Have you altered your mind?"

"I expected you to say so," said the other, bitterly. "I knew that I
should meet with this mockery of my resolution, but it is uncalled for.
It is not I that have changed!"

"What is it, then, has happened,--do they refuse your passport?"

"Not that either; I never got so far as to ask for it. The misfortune
is in this wise: on going to the bank to learn the sum that lay to
my credit and draw for it, I was met by the reply that I had nothing
there,--not a shilling. Before I could demand how this could be the
case, the whole truth suddenly flashed across my memory, and I recalled
to mind how one night, as I lay awake, the thought occurred to me that
it was base and dishonorable in me, now that I was come to manhood, to
accept of the means of life from one who felt shame in my connection
with him. 'Why,' thought I, 'is there to be the bond of dependence where
there is no tie of affection to soften its severity?' And so I arose
from my bed, and wrote to Sir Horace, saying that by the same post I
should remit to his banker at Naples whatever remained of my last year's
allowance, and declined in future to accept of any further assistance.
This I did the same day, and never told you of it,--partly, lest you
should try to oppose me in my resolve; partly," and here his voice
faltered, "to spare myself the pain of revealing my motives. And now
that I have buoyed my heart up with this project, I find myself without
means to attempt it. Not that I regret my act, or would recall it,"
cried he, proudly, "but that the sudden disappointment is hard to bear.
I was feeding my hopes with such projects for the future when this
stunning news met me, and the thought that I am now chained here by
necessity has become a torture."

"What ans