This house was at first sufficiently large for me to carry on my business comfortably; but as the work became more complicated we found it necessary to add to it, and in 1770 built the eastern wing. Thirty years later the western wing, together with the Lothbury front, was built. From time to time there have been additions and alterations, which account for the variety in the style of architecture. I ought to have mentioned that part of my residence stands on marshy soil, in the course of the ancient stream of Walbrook, and, that I might suffer no ill effect from this, the foundation was strengthened by means of piles and counter-arches. And here, being settled in my new home, I will pause to put all things in order before going on with my story. (_To be continued._) [Illustration: THE OLD BANK.] FOOTNOTES: [1] Joseph Addison, an elegant writer and a Secretary of State in Queen Anne’s reign. He was born in Wiltshire, 1672, and died in 1719 at the age of forty-seven. [2] Try and keep the meaning of tallies in your mind. [3] Thomas Guy was the son of a lighterman in Horselydown, Southwark. He was born in 1643, and died in 1724. He was apprenticed to a bookseller, and afterwards began the world with £200, which, by good business habits and extreme parsimony, became an immense fortune. GIRLS’ FRIENDSHIPS. By the Author of “Flowering Thorns.” CHAPTER III. HOW THEY ARE BROKEN. In all friendships which ultimately cease to exist there comes the point of departure as in the capital letter Y; the point where the two before united friends separate and continue their lives in different directions. At first the division between them is a very narrow one, but it widens and stretches out till the two wholly lose sight of each other. Of this I have already spoken as the drifting apart of friends; the gradual cooling of once warm friendship. But it has another kind of conclusion as abrupt and final as the termination of the capital letter I, of which no continuance is possible. It was difficult in the first instance to say just where the separation between the friends began, but here there can be no mistake, and very often not only the girls themselves but their relations and acquaintances know that there has been a quarrel. The letters and meetings do not become shorter and fewer, they cease; or if circumstances do not allow of this—for their respective families do not necessarily quarrel too—they become noticeably forced and frigid, and, if possible, avoided. There is a sore feeling on both sides which those who tranquilly drifted apart never experienced. The friendship has broken off short, as it were, there has been no period of preparation for this sudden issue, and both girls are wounded; though whether it be in their affection, dignity, or self-love, the cause of estrangement and character of each must determine.