"Oh! nothing--nothing at all," said Lionel, lightly--"nothing surprising in _my_ coming; but for you to be here! Ah! Harry, I'm afraid the study of the classics is making you light and wild." It was now Harry's turn to look conscious, for his heart seemed to whisper to him that the shafts let fly by his companion were not so badly aimed; and for a few moments he strove vainly for the composure he needed to carry on the wordy warfare with effect. "Perhaps we had better bring this interview to a close," he said at last; for, in spite of Lionel's talk of withdrawing, he still stayed. Clayton looked round as he spoke, to find Janet's fierce dark eyes fixed upon him as if they would read his every thought. Then bowing to Patty, he turned as if to leave, hesitating though as he reached the door. "Oh! I'm ready," said Lionel, superciliously, as he rightly interpreted the other's uneasiness. "Good morning, ladies." Then closely following Clayton, he once more passed through the shop, followed by the head-shakings of D. Wragg, and encountering the offensive stare of the heavy young man outside, who now followed the friends until they reached the streets traversed by a more respectable class than those who favoured the Decadian. No words were spoken--the young men walking side by side--the one careless and indifferent, the other anxious and troubled in mind--more so even than he cared to own to himself. Volume 2, Chapter III. SEPARATION. On reaching Lionel's chambers, a show of cordiality was kept up; but during the walk back, Harry, filled with bitterness, had decided upon his future course--rashly enough, he knew--but he was determined to put an end to what he told himself had been but a mad dream after one who was not worthy of his regard. The young men lunched, walked out, and dined together, after which, with their coffee and cigars, they sat by the open window, where Lionel, who had evidently been turning something over in his mind--suddenly exclaimed-- "I don't want to quarrel, Harry; but I have been thinking over that meeting this morning." "Hear me first," exclaimed Harry, almost fiercely. "You spoke in a strangely supercilious way, Lionel--a way that cut severely; and I feel it due to myself and to my position to declare solemnly that my visit to that place this morning was prompted by the purest motives." He hesitated for a moment, but the feeling of weak pride even now restrained him from telling Lionel who the object of this conversation was. "By a desire for the well-being of one who struck me as--" "Oh, yes!" burst in Lionel, "of course. I know what you would say. So was I moved by the purest motives."