"Rat-tat-tat-tat." It was unmistakably Travers's knock, and boisterously hilarious, too, as in the old time, before any Constance Herveys had emerged from pinafores and tuckers to distract and torment mankind, and more especially well-to-do government clerks. The startled maid-servant hastened to the door, and I had barely gained my feet and stretched myself, when in bounced Travers--radiant--a-blaze with triumph. "Hollo, Travers! Why, where the deuce do you spring from, eh?" "From Heaven! Paradise!--the presence of an angel at all events!" "There, there, that will do; I quite understand." "No, you don't Ned. Nobody but myself _can_ understand, imagine, guess, dream of the extent the vastness of the change that has come over my life. Firstly, then--but this is nothing--Rowdell is at length superannuated, and I am to have his place." He paused a moment; and I, with certainly a more than half-envious sneer, said--"And upon the strength of that piece of luck, you have proposed to Constance Hervey, and been accepted--of course." "_Jubilate_--yes! Feel how my pulse throbs! It is four hours since, and still my brain lightens and my eyes dazzle with the tumultuous joy. Do not light the candles; I shall grow calmer in the twilight." "Confound his raptures," was my internal ejaculation. "Why the mischief couldn't he take them somewhere else?" I, however, said nothing, and he presently resumed the grateful theme. "You will be at the wedding, of course. And by-the-by, now I think of it, haven't I heard Constance say she especially remembers you for something--I forget exactly what--but something pleasant and amusing--very!" My face kindled to flame, and I savagely whirled the easy chair in which I sat two or three yards back from the fire-light before speaking. "I am extremely obliged to the lady, and so I dare say is poor Capel, who, it seems, has been so carelessly thrown over." "Carelessly thrown over!" rejoined Travers, sharply. "That is a very improper expression. If he has, as I fear, indulged in illusions, he has been only self-deceived. Still, his double disappointment grieves me. It seems to cast--though there is no valid reason that it should do so--a shadow on my conscience." We were both silent for some time. I was in no mood for talking, and he sat gazing dreamily at the fire. I knew very well whose face he saw there. I have seen it myself in the same place a hundred times. "There is another drawback, Ned," he at length resumed. "Our marriage must be deferred six months at the least. I have but about two hundred pounds in ready money, and the lease and furniture of the house we shall require, would cost at least double that." "Any respectable establishment would credit you for the furniture upon the strength of your greatly-increased salary."