the boot he had taken off
upon the floor--in the noisy way that young men do before they learn
in marriage how to behave themselves, was the silent comment of Mrs.
Wilberforce, who heard him, as she made her preparations for bed, next
door.

Dick was not so jolly as usual, in the hour of smoke and converse which
ensued. It was usually the rector's favourite hour, the moment for
expansion, for confidences, for assurances on his part, to his young
friends, that life in the company of a nice woman, and with your children
growing up round you, was in reality a far better thing than your clubs
and theatres--although a momentary regret might occasionally cross the
mind, and a strong desire for just so many reasonable neighbours as might
form a whist-party. Dick was in the habit of making fun of the rector's
self-congratulations and regrets, but on this evening he scarcely made a
single joke. Three or four times he relapsed into that silence, meditative
or otherwise, which is permitted and even enjoyable in the midst of
smoke, when two men are confidential without saying anything, and are
the best of company without exchanging one idea. But in the midst of one
of those pauses, which was more remarkable, he suddenly sat bolt upright
in his chair, and said, "I am afraid I must leave you to-morrow," taking
away the rector's breath.

"Leave us to-morrow! Why in the name of wonder should you leave us
to-morrow?" Mr. Wilberforce cried.

"Well, the truth is," said Dick, "you see I have been away from home a
considerable time: and my people are going abroad very soon; and then
I've been remiss, you know, in my home duties."

"But you knew all that, my dear fellow, yesterday as well as to-day."

"That's true," said Dick, with a laugh. "The fact is that's not all,
Wilberforce. I have had letters."

"Letters! Has there been a delivery? Bless my soul!" said the rector,
"this is something quite new."

"Look here," said Dick. "I have been out, and I passed by the--the
post-office, and there I got news--Come, don't look at me in that violent
way. I have got news, and there is an end of it, which makes me think I
had better clear out of this."

"If you want to make a mystery, Cavendish," said the rector, slowly
knocking out the ashes of his pipe.

"I don't want to make any mystery," said Dick; then he added, "If I did,
it would be, of course, because I could not help it. Sometimes a man is
mixed up in a mystery which he can't thro