But I am going no further with the matter now; except to say that in something like an hour Mr. Amidon departed much perturbed by the prospect of the nearness of his happiness, fully convinced of his unworthiness, and quakingly uncertain as to many things, but most of all, just then, as to his clothes! "This man Brassfield," said he to himself, "seems to have been a good deal of a dude, and Elizabeth--the darling!--will expect me to be fully up to vogue in this regard--as she will be in all things. And I don't believe a thing has been done about clothes." Meantime, Madame le Claire walked up and down in a locked chamber, struggling with her grief. "Oh, it is hopeless, hopeless!" said the poor girl to herself, over and over again. "Florian, my darling Florian, whom I found blind and wandering in the wilderness, and took by the hand and guided to the light--Florian has gone from me! She has taken him, just as she took him before. But the man she thinks loves her--her Eugene--I'm sure he's coming to love me; and to be tired of her! And I could keep him Brassfield, if I chose--if I chose! I wonder--I wonder if it would be wrong? What would she do if she had my power? Twice I had to try, before I could restore him. I could! I could!" Small wonder, therefore, that Madame le Claire sat wild-eyed and excited, and flew fearfully to Judge Blodgett and the professor, when Mr. Brassfield went free, with Alderson at heel. And all the time, as the crew of a ship carry on the routine of drill while the torpedo is speeding for her hull, these social amenities went on all unconscious of the explosion now imminent. XV THE TURPITUDE OF BRASSFIELD Man to black Misfortune beckons When upon himself he reckons, Marshals Faith among his assets, Blinks his nature's many facets. This dull gem is an ascetic, Bloodless, pulseless, apathetic: Shift the light--a trifling matter-- Fra Anselmo turns a satyr! --_The Kaleidoscope_.