Layton walked punctiliously at his side till he reached the boat, neither uttering a word; and thus they parted. Layton stood for a moment gazing after the boat. Perhaps he thought that Karstairs would turn his head again towards the shore; perhaps--who knows?--he hoped it. At all events, the old Colonel never once looked back, and the boat soon rounded the point and was lost to view. There are men so combative in their natures that their highest enjoyment is derived from conflict with the world,--men whose self-esteem is never developed till they see themselves attacking or attacked. Layton was one of this unhappy number, and it was with a sort of bastard heroism that he strolled back to the cottage, proud in the thought of how he stood, alone and friendless, undeterred by the enmity of men of a certain influence and station. He was soon in his laboratory and at work, the reaction imparting a great impulse to his energy. He set to work with unwonted vigor and determination. Chemical investigation has its good and evil days,--its periods when all goes well, experiments succeed, tests answer, and results respond to what was looked for; and others when disturbing causes intervene, gases escape, and retorts smash. This was one of the former; and the subtle essence long sought after by Layton, so eagerly desired, and half despaired of, seemed at last almost within reach. A certain salt, an ingredient very difficult of preparation, was, however, wanting to his further progress, and it was necessary that he should provide himself with it ere he advanced any further. To obtain this without any adulterating admixture and in all purity was essential to success; and he determined to set out immediately for Dublin, where he could himself assist in its preparation. “What good luck it was, Grace,” said he, as he entered the room where she sat awaiting dinner for him,--“what good luck that the boy should have sent us this money! I must go up to Dublin to-morrow, and without it I must have given up the journey.” “To Dublin!” said she, in a half-frightened voice, for she dreaded--not without reason--the temptations he would be exposed to when accidentally lifted above his usual poverty.