"It'll be all the worse for you, young fellow! Now, do you mean to tell me, or don't you?'

"I don't see how I can without cutting the throat of that confidence which ought

"Yes, or no!

me, or not?"

"Excuse me. mind."

We've had quite enough jabbering. Will you tell

Not to-night. I must turn the matter over in my

"Lock him up!" cried the inspector,-"lock him up!" And, after having as quietly as a dove undergone the operation of having his pockets emptied the necessity for which, however, he could not then exactly comprehend, he was conducted from the bar into the yard, and introduced into one of the cells.

As far as the abstract process of locking-up was concerned this met his views precisely: he expected to be locked up, as a matter of course, he expected that; but he did not expect to be introduced into a cell crowded with persons, of whom the majority were in a state of the most bestial intoxication, yet such was the fact. Some were snoring, some were singing, and some were swearing, while the effluvium which prevailed was not remarkable for its fragrance. Bob felt that this ought not to be. He understood, of course, then, why his pockets had been emptied; but he did think the practice of thrusting all sorts of characters into a place of this kind indiscriminately, was one which never ought to have obtained. He, however, resolved to make himself as comfortable as the circumstances of which some were peculiarly unpleasant would permit; and, having discussed certain interesting points with his conscience, he fell asleep, and slept soundly till the clock struck nine. He was then aroused by the policeman who had charge of the cell; and who, being a decent man in his way, did, with great consideration, procure him some breakfast, which Bob enjoyed much, and then waited with patience till the hour arrived at which he and the rest were escorted to the office.

In this procession he had the precedence; and he had scarcely left the door of the station when a stranger placed a coat into his hands, and walked away without uttering a word. Bob recognised the coat in an instant. It was a frock-coat. He had brushed it he knew not how oft, nor did he care. He put it on with alacrity, and the fit was undeniable.

"Is that your own coat?" inquired the policeman who did him the honour to keep by his side.

"No; the buttons of my own coats tells tales," replied Bob. "Your master, I suppose, sent it?"

"He who sent it is a trump, and nothing but!" cried Bob, who was proud of the coat, and felt happy. "All right!" said he to himself in a confidential whisper. "Ain't it a blessing to have a master that's grateful? He don't care about me! What a pity he don't!" Hereupon Bob winked with peculiar significance, and entered the office with a tranquil mind.

Nearly an hour elapsed before his case was called on ; and although during the whole of that time he was perfectly self-possessed, on being placed at the bar, and called "prisoner " he certainly did feel in some slight degree confused. As the case, however, proceeded, his nerves recovered their wonted tone; and when the charge had been made he

pulled down his waistcoat, and held up his head with the air of a man conscious of having a great duty to perform.

"Now," said the magistrate, "what have you to say to all this?" "Please your worship," said Bob, "it wasn't a hact of mine. It wasn't me that drove through the Quadrant at all."

"We know that; but what do you say to the charge of having obstructed the police in the execution of their duty?"

"Why, please your worship, what could I do? I didn't want to hurt nobody. I'm sure I'm of a peaceful dispensation enough; but, when I knew the police wanted for to collar my master, how could I stand that? Suppose you was my master, what would you think of me if I suffered you to be taken? Would it be at all the ticket? Wouldn't you think it unpopular and rotten ingratitude? I rayther think you would, your worship, reely, if you only just put it to yourself in that predicament, and argue the matter cool."

The magistrate smiled, and again consulted the police-sheet, and then said, "Let me see: what do you say your master's name is?" "I beg your worship's pardon, but I didn't say at all."

"Well, what is his name?

"Why, your worship, you'll obleedge me by not asking; you will, upon my word, 'cause I don't want to tell any falsity, and I ain't justifiable in speaking the truth."

"But we must know."

"Well, now, reely; I bow, of course, respectably to your worship; but, if you look at the thing in the right light, as a pint of principle, I don't think that if I was to tell you'd believe that I'd any principality in me."

The magistrate tried to look grave, but the thing was a failure. He did, however, say, with great apparent severity,

"What if I were to send you to prison, sir, and keep you there until you did tell us?"

"I hope your worship will think better of it," said Bob. "It ain't as if I'd done a single ha'p'orth of injury; nor it ain't as if it was me, you know, as drove upon the pavement, which, if I must speak the sentiments of my mind, is a thing I wouldn't think of doing myself; and, though the law may say I didn't ought to have touched the police, but ought rayther to have assisted him in collaring of master, your worship will see that such a law is right clean against Nature; 'cause if I'd a-done that I should a-hated myself regular: I couldn't a been off it."

"You are fined five pounds," said the Magistrate; "and tell your master from me that his conduct is disgraceful."

Bob bowed; and as he left the bar a solicitor, whom Stanley had engaged to watch the case, placed in his hand the required sum, with which the fine was duly paid, and he was at once set at liberty. Sir William, who, although unperceived by him, had been in the office, now presented him a sovereign; and as on reaching home Stanley made him a present of five, he could not but feel that Fortune, smiling sweetly upon him, had designed the whole thing with no other view than that of getting him out of those pecuniary embarrassments in which he had been so deeply and so painfully involved.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE RECONCILIATION.

THE efforts of General Johnson to effect a reconciliation had been so perfectly successful, that he called on the morning of the event just recorded to invite Stanley and Amelia to a quiet family dinner, gently hinting that they were not to feel in the slightest degree amazed if they met certain persons whom they honoured. The intimation was, of course, in an instant understood; and nothing ever surpassed the fervid heart-stirring eloquence with which Amelia poured forth her thanks. The General, although overjoyed at having accomplished his object, could scarcely refrain from shedding tears. Every word touched his feelings as a father; every sentence went directly to his heart. Nor was Stanley unmoved. With all his faults he loved Amelia most fondly. He could not bear to see her afflicted. He might be thoughtless; he might neglect her- and his neglect was attributable to thoughtlessness alone: but a gentle tear from her would wound him more than the most severe reproof that could be uttered. In this instance he knew that her tears were distilled from a feeling of joy; yet he could not endure them; and, as all his serious efforts to check them failed, he had recourse to that species of irony which tends to make troubles seem less by virtue of painting them greater than they are.

"My love," said he, "this is indeed a dreadful day. Can the General be really a friend to bring this great calamity upon us? What the result of his polite invitation may be one can't think; but is it not your impression that it ought to break our hearts? Come, come, you silly girl! You should smile, not weep. Tears should be tolerated only with troubles; they should never be permitted to dim a happy prospect: General, should they?”

"You are a good fellow, sir," said the General, pressing his hand. "I admire you, sir. You have an angel for a wife, and you know

it."

"Yes," said Stanley playfully," she is very fair, considering. Her government is, however, extremely tyrannous."

"That's right-quite right: keep a tight rein, my girl, and then he may do. He is a wild young dog, and requires to be looked sharply after. However, if you mind what you are about, I think it possible that the favourable opinion I have formed of his character will be lasting.

"General," said Stanley, "for the interest you have taken in Amelia accept my warmest thanks. She is a good girl; and I cannot but think that for her sake the Captain might have felt himself justified in meeting us before."

"My dear Stanley!" said Amelia.

"Do you want to spoil all?" cried the General. "Not another word on that subject. Take my advice. But I'll leave him in your hands," he added, addressing Amelia. "You must instruct him that the less he says about that the better. Adieu! Remember six. Depend upon it all will be well."

The General then left; and the moment he had done so Amelia

commenced her task of prevailing upon Stanley to say nothing displeasing to her father-a task which she accomplished with ease.

"For your sake, my dearest girl," said he affectionately, "I will on that point be silent. I, of course, perceive that it might produce an unpleasant feeling, and will, therefore, not indulge in a single word."

From this time until six Amelia was lost in contemplation. She endeavoured to think herself happy, but her happiness was then most imperfect. Her feelings of delight were mingled with those of apprehension, both struggling for the mastery, but neither gaining the ascendant.

When the time for their departure had arrived she became still more nervous. The blood left her cheeks, and she trembled with violence on the carriage being announced. Stanley tried with the most affectionate zeal to cheer her. He strove to convince her that her father's object was not to inflict an additional wound upon her feelings, but to heal that which his anger had already induced. Still she dreaded to meet him, and became so tremulous on reaching the General's residence that she had scarcely sufficient strength to alight.

"Courage-courage! my dear girl!" cried Stanley as he placed her arm in his, and led her gently into the house. "You are not my Amelia to-day!"

Another effort was made to assume an air of calmness, and they were received with the most cheering warmth. Miss Johnson, with the familiar love of a sister, took Amelia at once under her own especial care, and exerted her enlivening influence with some degree of success. Stanley was under the command of the General, who marched him into the library, and remained to entertain him until Captain and Mrs. Joliffe arrived, when he introduced the lady into the library, and conducted the Captain at once into the drawing-room, to which Amelia had been led by her affectionate friend.

The very moment the Captain entered, Amelia flew into his arms, which were extended to receive her; but for some moments neither had the power to speak. She sobbed convulsively, while the big tears rolled down his cheeks as he kissed her, and fondly pressed her again and again to his heart.

you

"My girl!" he cried at length, "my own dear girl!—for dear are still to me, my child,-nay, dearer than ever. Look up, my love! Kiss me-no more sadness now."

"Dear papa!" cried Amelia, in tones the most touching. "You will forgive me, papa? Pray, forgive me?"

"I do from my heart! from my soul! Bless you!-bless you both!-be happy!"

A fresh flood of tears was the only rejoinder Amelia could make ; and as her father with the most affectionate tenderness led her to the sofa, the General, who had laid his whole plan, went for Stanley and Mrs. Joliffe, with whom he speedily returned; and while Amelia was being caressed by the latter, the Captain was shaking the former cordially by the hand, thereby perfectly realizing the conception of the General, who felt that his task was complete.

Amelia was now most happy. Restored to those who from her earliest infancy had cherished and loved her most fondly, her heart was filled with that pure joy whose natural element is silence.

During dinner not a syllable was uttered having reference even remotely to the cause of their meeting that day. They appeared to be afraid to speak, lest they should happen to drop a word which could be supposed to apply to it. Miss Johnson, however, did eventually go so far as to explain how excessively disappointed she had been on ascertaining that Stanley was married, inasmuch as, in the event of his having been single, what the consequence of her rescue might have been she really could not at all pretend to tell. Upon which Stanley condoled with her in the most happy vein, and she was rallied on the subject by all but Amelia, whose heart was too full to allow her to join them.

The ladies retired early, and their retirement appeared to be the signal for silence. This part of the business seemed to have been altogether forgotten by the General; he had, at all events, omitted to include it in his plan. He now saw that the grand subject must of necessity be alluded to in some way; and while he was considering which ought to speak first, Stanley and the Captain were waiting anxiously for each other to begin. At length the General, by dint of much reasoning,— for he remembered no precedent by which he could be guided,―safely arrived at the conclusion that they both expected him to break the ice; and, as he could not clearly recognise any incorrectness in such a course, he replenished his glass, and resolved to pursue it.

Well," said he, having taken a deep inspiration," you understand each other perfectly now, I presume? You consent to receive this desperate young gentleman, and he, in return, consents to act so as to render his alliance a source of pleasure to all concerned. Is it not so?"

"That seems to be implied," said the Captain. "But I have to make one stipulation, which is, that as I have certain scruples on the subject, we must have this marriage celebrated according to the rites of the Church of England, and in an English church. You will consent to this?" he added, addressing Stanley.

"With pleasure," replied Stanley. "I shall be happy in any way to meet your views."

"Then from this hour not a single word on the subject which caused our estrangement shall ever escape my lips. All shall be as if I had given my consent in the first instance; and nothing that I can do to promote the happiness of you both shall be left undone."

"Excellent!" cried the General. "When is it to be?"

"As early as you please," replied Stanley. "Perhaps the sooner the better."

"Well, then, let me see," said the Captain, "to-morrow is Saturday, the licence can be procured in the morning. Suppose we say Monday? The thing can be confined to ourselves, and we can all dine at Richmond, and be happy. Shall it be so?"

Stanley at once consented, and the preliminaries were discussed and satisfactorily arranged; and when the arrangement was communicated to Amelia, she experienced the truest, the purest delight.