Year: 1873

The exclamation was mental one, but


was none the less hearty for being suppress
ed; and readers will own that it was only


named and excusable under circumstance
es.


Rupert Holmes was Woodworking bar


rister, and was looked upon as rising


man that is, although he was only two


and-thirty, he was making an income of


nearly five hundred year. He had, beside,


some little fortune Of his own, and was,


therefore, far better Off than the great ma
jority of men of his own age in the profess
sion.


1t was the first day of vacation and as
he threw aside his legal book and started
for his holiday, he felt for the first time
how his hard work had told upon him, and


how glad he was that he was going away


for awhile from his close chambers and the


weary work of splitting legal hairs.
Generally an early riser, he had break


tasted late-so late that he was obliged TO


hurry through his packing in order to catch
his train for Chichester, where he was GO
ing to spend fortnight with his friend
Jack Wilmot, before starting for long
ramble upon the continent. He had, how
ever, reached the terminus with five min
utcs to spare; he had found an empty car
riage, had tipped the guard TO retain II for
hint was before the happy era of smok-
ing carrages-and was looking forward to


the placid enjoyment of his .fter-break last
cigar.


The bell rang, the train was upon the
very point of starting, and his ci9ar-case


was in his hand, when there was hustle
on the platform, and porter hurried up to
the carriage with two ladies, looked in, and
unlocked the door.


snow, ladies, look sharp, please; the
trains starting"


The ladies entered, tho door was slam
med to, and the train moved out of the sta
ton.


II must be allowed that It was excusable
under the circumstances for Rupert Holmes


to relieve his feelings by this mental excla-
nation of "Confound itv'


The ladies were evidently mother and
| daughter. There was strong resemblance
between them, although the expression was
different. The mother was fair, placid and
| quiet looking, rather tlurried at present by
| the hustle consequent upon being late. The
| daughter was brunette, with a demure
| look through which the fun rippled out at


every movement of the lips and eyes; and
| ii was at once evident by the little anxious
glance that she shot at Rupert Holmes as
| he put his cigar case back into his pocke OF,
that she understood his feelings quite "a


well as If he had spoken that silent Soon
found itr' aloud.


Rupert caught the look, and could scarce
ly hell p smiling in return. lie then exam
ined his Bradshaw, ran his finger down
the list; and having resolved upon chang
ing carriages at Reigate, determined TO


make himself agreeable, and enjoy him
self as much as he could till he arrived
there. lie was in high spirits, which even
the little contretemps which had just hap
pened could not damp for more than min


ute or two; and he gladly availed himself


of the opening, which the elder lady by ro-
questing him 10 lend her his Bradshaw,
made to enter into conversation. This was


at first supported almost entirely by tho


mother and himself; but little by little the
daughter Joined in, and before tho train had
leil bOnuon brluReh quarter oi an hour,
Rupert Holmes had changed his seat for


one opposite the ladies, and was chatting


away as familiarly as II he had known his
fellow passengers for years.
Presently the elder lady took out from


her travellng-bag some knitting, at which


she began placdly 10 work and as the


pattern upon which she was engaged was


somewhat complicated one, requiring


much attention and counting OF stitches,


she gradually fell out of the conversation,


which, however, was carried on none the


less vigorously by the others.
Rupert Holmes was far too busy man


to 90 much into society. His evening re-


Taxation consisted in n visit 10 quiet liter


AIRY club to which he belonged, and a talk
over the last new book, the latest art gos-