Beattie was half inclined to laugh in the other’s face, and yet he was impressed in spite of himself. In one moment he had mentally run over the circumstances again. It was one of his maxims never to make an enemy if he could help it. Was it worth while making an enemy of young Lindsay? True, he saw no way in which Lindsay could injure him--things were rather the other way. But he might be a rich and influential man some day. He might have it in his power to refuse a request from _him_, or to advance his interests. These things passed through the managing clerk’s mind in less than a second. ‘Oh, if you put it in that way, Lindsay, to oblige you--I don’t mind looking over it this time. But you’d better tell him this is his last chance. And I wish you would let me have the draft of Sir Joseph Wilson’s settlement to-night if you can.’ Alec, who was secretly a little ashamed of his own vehemence, muttered a few words of thanks; and, going to his own room, scribbled on a piece of paper, ‘Come back to your old seat, and say nothing about it.--A. L.’ This he sent on to MacGowan by one of the clerks in the outer office. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Beattie to himself, as Alec left him; ‘the creature’s sure to break out again in a month or two, so it comes very much to the same thing.’ As Alec left the office that night he found himself overtaken by MacGowan. ‘Oh, Mr. Lindsay, sir!’ cried MacGowan, ‘I just canna thank ye ava’!’ ‘There’s no need for that,’ said Alec; ‘but I may as well say this--I shan’t be able to stand your friend another time; I shall not, indeed. And I very much fear that if you misbehave again, Mr. Beattie will turn you away for good and all.’ ‘I dare say, but I’ll no gie him the chance. I’ll swear to you I’ll keep sober, Mr. Lindsay. I’ll swear’t to you on my Bible oath. I ken fine what gar’d him pack me awa’. The ither clerks ca’ed us “The Twa Scotties,” him and me; and he didna like it.’ ‘Well, I’m glad things have gone all right. Good-night,’ said Alec, quickening his pace. Before he had gone much farther he met Hubert Blake. ‘By the way,’ said Blake, when they had exchanged greetings, ‘do you know whom I saw the other day in Regent Street--an old friend of yours--that young lady who used to stay with your uncle--what was her name?’ ‘You mean Miss Mowbray,’ said Alec quietly. He spoke in his ordinary tone, but he could not prevent the quick blush mounting to his forehead. After a few unimportant sentences Blake bade Alec good-night. A smile was on his lips as he turned away. ‘Poor fellow!’ he said to himself, ‘so he has not forgotten her!’ FOOTNOTES: [3] Meet. [4] Disgusting. CHAPTER XVIII. AT THE ACADEMY.