“If I had been in your place, I'm afraid I should be glad not to have thought of it in time; and I'm afraid I'm glad that, as it is, it's too late. But doesn't it involve you with him in the eyes of the other young man?” “Yes, I presume it does,” said Lemuel. “I shall have to go away.” “Back to Willoughby Pastures?” asked Sewell, with not so much faith in that panacea for Lemuel's troubles as he had once had. “No, to some other town. Do you know of anything I could get to do in New York?” “Oh, no, no!” said the minister. “You needn't let this banish you. We must seek this young Mr.--” “Berry.” “--Mr. Berry out, and explain the matter to him.” “Then you'll have to tell him all about me?” “Yes. Why not?” Lemuel was silent, and looked down. “In the meantime,” pursued the minister, “I have a message for you from Miss Vane. She has heard, as we all have, of your behaviour during the fire--” “It wasn't anything,” Lemuel interrupted. “There wasn't the least danger; and Mrs. Evans did it all herself, anyway. It made me sick to see how the papers had it. It's a shame!” Sewell smiled. “I'm afraid you couldn't make Miss Vane think so; but I can understand what you mean. She has never felt quite easy about the way--the terms--on which she parted with you. She has spoken to me several times of it, and--ah--expressed her regret; and now, knowing that you have been--interrupted in your life, she is anxious to have you come to her--” An angry flash lighted up Lemuel's face. “I couldn't go back there! I wouldn't do any such work again.” “I don't mean that,” Sewell hastened to say “Miss Vane wished me to ask you to come as her guest until you could find something--Miss Sibyl Vane has gone to New York--” “I'm very much obliged to her,” said Lemuel, “but I shouldn't want to give her so much trouble, or any one. I--I liked her very much, and I shouldn't want she should think I didn't appreciate her invitation.” “I will tell her,” said the minister. “I had no great hope you would see your way to accepting it. But she will be glad to know that you received it.” He added, rather interrogatively than affirmatively, “In the right spirit.” “Oh yes,” said Lemuel. “Please to tell her I did.” “Thank you,” said Sewell, with bland vagueness. “I don't know that I've asked yet where you are staying at present?” “I'm at Mrs. Nash's, 13 Canary Place. Mrs. Harmon went there first.” “Oh! And are you looking forward to rejoining her in a new place?” “I don't know as I am. I don't know as I should want to go into an hotel again.” Sewell manifested a little embarrassment. “Well, you won't forget your promise to let me be of use to you--pecuniarily, if you should be in need of a small advance at any time.” “Oh no! But I've got enough money for a while yet--till I can get something to do.” He rose, and after a moment's hesitation he said, “I don't know as I want you should say anything to that fellow about me. To Mr. Berry, I mean.”