then present � and so much to the awakening of mr s punctual habits in the opening stage of all bill transactions that he could not be from immediately rushing out in the highest spirits to buy the for his notes of hand but his joy received a sudden check for within five minutes he returned in the of a s officer informing us in a flood of tears that all was lost the personal history and experience we being quite prepared for this event which was of course a proceeding of s soon paid the money and in five minutes more mr was seated at the table filling up the with an expression of perfect joy which only that congenial employment or the making of punch could impart in full completeness to his shining face to see him at work on the with the relish of an artist touching them like pictures looking at them sideways taking notes of dates and in his pocket book and contemplating them when finished with a high sense of their precious value was a sight indeed now the best thing you can do sir if you il allow me to advise you said my aunt after silently observing him is to that occupation for madam replied mr it is my intention to register such a vow on the virgin page of the future mrs will it i trust said mr solemnly that my son will ever bear in mind that he had infinitely better put his fist in the fire than use it to handle the that have poisoned the life blood of his unhappy parent deeply affected and changed in a moment to the image of despair mr regarded the with a look of gloomy in which his late admiration of them was not quite subdued folded them up and put them in his pocket this closed the proceedings of the evening we were weary with sorrow and fatigue and my aunt and i were to return to london on the morrow it was arranged that the should follow us after a sale of their goods to a that mr s affairs should be brought to a settlement with all convenient speed under the direction of tr and that should also come to london those arrangements we passed the night at the old house which freed from the presence of the seemed of a disease and i lay in my old room like a wanderer come home we went back next day to my aunt s house � not to mine and when she and i sat alone as of old before going to bed she said trot do you really wish to know what i have had upon my mind lately indeed i do aunt if there ever was a time when i felt unwilling that you should have a sorrow or anxiety which i could not share it is now you have had sorrow enough child said my aunt affectionately without the addition of my little miseries i could have no other motive trot in keeping anything from you i know that well said i but tell me now would you ride with me a little way to morrow morning asked my aunt of course at nine said she i tell you then my dear at nine accordingly we went out in a little chariot and drove to london we drove a long way through the streets until we came to one of the large standing hard by the building was a plain ov david the driver recognised my aunt and in obedience to a motion of her hand at the window drove slowly off we following you understand it now trot said my aunt he is gone did he die in the hospital yes she sat immovable beside me but again i saw the stray tears on her face he was there once before said my aunt presently he was a long time � a shattered broken man these many years when he knew his state in this last illness he asked them to send for me he was sorry then very sorry you went i know aunt i went i was with him a good deal afterwards he died the night before we went to said i my aunt nodded no one can harm him now she said it was a vain threat we drove away out of town to the churchyard at better here than in the streets said my aunt he was born here we alighted and followed the plain coffin to a corner i remember well where the service was read it to the dust six and thirty years ago this day my dear said my aunt as we walked back to the chariot i was married god forgive us all we took our seats in silence and so she sat beside me for a long time holding my hand at length she suddenly burst into tears and said he was a fine looking man when i married him trot � and he was sadly changed it did not last long after the relief of tears she soon became composed and even cheerful her nerves were a little shaken she said or she would not have given way to it god forgive us all so we rode back to her httle cottage at high gate where we found the following short note which had arrived by that morning s post from mi friday my dear madam and the fair land of promise lately on the horizon is again enveloped in impenetrable mists and for ever withdrawn from the eyes of a drifting wretch whose doom is sealed another writ has been issued in his majesty s high court of king s bench at westminster in another cause of v and the in that cause is the prey of the having legal in this now s the day and now s the hour see the front 