icular way--which was the very last thing I desired him to know, as
he was such a gossip. But I dared say no more then. We grasped one
another's hands very heartily: and then I went to find Dolly.

* * * * *

The days that followed were very happy ones--though, as I shall
presently relate, they were to be interrupted once more. I had in my
mind, during them all, that I must soon go up to London again to tell
Mr. Chiffinch my final decision that I could not undertake the work that
he had proposed to me; for I had spoken of it at some length with Dolly,
giving her a confidence that I dared not give to her father. But I did
not think that I should have to go so soon.

It was in the hour before supper one evening that I told her of it, as
we sat in the tapestried parlour, looking into the fire from the settle
where we sat together.

"My dear," said I, "I wish to ask your advice. But it is a very private
matter indeed."

"Tell me," said Dolly contentedly. (Her hand was in mine, and she looked
extraordinary pretty in the firelight.)

"I am asked whether I will undertake a little work. In itself it is
excellent. It concerns the protection of His Majesty; but it is the
means that I am doubtful about."

Then I told her that of the details--of the how and the when and the
where--I knew no more than she: but that, if all went well, I might find
myself trusted by a traitor: and that I was considering whether in such
a cause as this it was a work to which I could put my hand, to betray
that trust, if I got it. But before I was done speaking I knew that I
could not--so wonderfully does speaking to another clear one's mind--and
that though I could not condemn outright a man who thought fit to do so,
any more than I would condemn a scavenger for cleaning the gutter, it
was not work for a gentleman to seek out a confidence that he might
betray it again.

"Now that I have put it into words," I said, "I see that it cannot be
done. Certainly it would advance me very much with His Majesty; (and
that is one reason why I spoke to you of it)--but such advance would be
too dearly bought. Do you not think so too, my dear?"

She nodded slowly and very emphatically three or four times, without
speaking, as her manner was.

"Then that is decided," said I, "and in a day or two I will go to town
and tell them so."

So we put the matter away then; and spoke of matters far more dear to
both of us, until Tom