"Come in," cried a stern voice--as of ditto.

Ned entered; and there, sure enough, was the same tall, gaunt man, with
the sour cast of countenance, standing, (as formerly,) with his back to
the fire.

"Ah!" exclaimed Moxton, "you're young Sinton, I suppose?"

Ned almost started at the perfect reproduction of events, and questions,
and answers. He felt a species of reckless incredulity in reference to
everything steal over him, as he replied--

"Yes; I came, at my uncle's request, for some papers that--"

"Ah, yes, they're all ready," interrupted the lawyer, advancing to the
table. "Tell your uncle that I shall be glad to hear from him again in
reference to the subject of those papers; and take care of them--they
are of value. Good-morning!"

"Good-morning!" replied our hero, retreating.

"Stay!" said Moxton.

Ned stopped, and turned round.

"You've been in California, since I last saw you, I understand?"

"I have," replied Ned.

"Umph! You haven't made your fortune, I fancy?"

"No, not quite."

"It's a wild place, if all reports are true?"

"Rather," replied Ned, smiling; "there's a want of law there."

"Ha! and lawyers," remarked Moxton, sarcastically.

"Indeed there is," replied Ned, with some enthusiasm, as he thought of
the gold-hunting spirit that prevailed in the cities of California.
"There is great need out there of men of learning--men who can resist
the temptation to collect gold, and are capable of doing good to the
colony in an intellectual and spiritual point of view. Clergymen,
doctors, and lawyers are much wanted there. You'd find it worth your
while to go, sir."

Had Edward Sinton advised Mr Moxton to go and rent an office in the
moon, he could scarcely have surprised that staid gentleman more than he
did by this suggestion. The lawyer gazed at him for one moment in
amazement. Then he said--

"These papers are of value, young man: be careful of them.
Good-morning--" and sat down at his desk to write. Ned did not venture
to reply, but instantly retired, and found himself in the street with--
not, as formerly, an indistinct, but--a distinct impression that he had
heard the dishevelled clerk chuckling vociferously as he passed through
the office.

That afternoon Ned and old Mr Shirley alighted from the train at a
small village not a hundred miles out of London, and wended their way
leisurely--for it was a warm sunny day for the season--towards a large,
quaint, old farm-hou