rmly. "It's absurd, and I hate it. I thought we were to be
always friends. I can't bear it, Frank, for I do like you."

"It was your doing," said the lad coldly.

"No. It was the wretched state our country is in that did it all."

"You always get the better of me in arguments," said Frank, "so I am not
going to fight with you in that way. But I know I am right."

"And I know that I am right," cried Andrew.

"I shall not, as I said before, try to argue with you. We could never
agree."

"No; it wants some one else to judge between us, and I'll tell you who's
the man."

"I don't see how we can speak about our troubles."

"No need to," said Andrew. "He'll know all about it. Let's leave it to
old Father Time. He proves all things. But, I say, Frank, don't be
obstinate. There's a meeting of the friends the day after to-morrow.
You'll come with me if we can get away?"

"I shall do all I can to stop you from going!" cried Frank.

"By betraying me?"

"No; I can't do that. I promised to be your friend; and though it may
be my duty, I couldn't do such a treacherous thing."

"As if I didn't know," said Andrew, laying his arm on the lad's
shoulder. "Do you think I would have been so open if I had not been
sure of you? There, you will come?"

"Never again."

"Never's a long time, Frank. Come."

"Once more, no!"

"To take care of me, and keep me from being too rash."

"I can't betray you and your friends," said Frank sadly; "but I can do
all that is possible to save you from a great danger."

"And so can I you. I'm right."

"No; I am right."

"You think so now; but I know you will come round. In the meantime,
thank you, Frank. I knew, I say, that you would be staunch; but I'll
tell you this: a word now from you would mean the breaking up of that
party in the city, and, unless I could warn them in time, the seizure
and perhaps death of many friends, and amongst them of one whom I love.
I told him everything about you, and of our friendship, and it was he
who bade me to bring you out in the Park there, so that he might see you
first, and judge for himself whether he should like you to join us."

"You mean Mr George Selby?"

"Yes, I mean Mr George Selby," said Andrew, with a peculiar smile and
emphasis on his words. "It was a very risky thing for him to come here
close to the Palace with so many spies about; but throwing biscuits to
the ducks was throwing dust in the people's eyes as well."