Richard and the butler now reached the top of the hill. Eugene was seated upon the bench in a deep reverie; and it was not until his brother and the faithful old domestic stood before him, that he awoke from that fit of abstraction. "What! Is that you, Whittingham?" he exclaimed, the moment he recognised the butler. "Richard, I did not think you would have done this." "It wasn't Master Richard's fault, sir," said Whittingham; "I was rayther too wide awake not to smell what was a-going on by virtue of my factory nerves; and so----" "My dear Whittingham," hastily interrupted Eugene, "I know that you are a faithful servant to my father, and very much attached to us: on that very account, pray do not interfere!" "Interfere!" ejaculated Whittingham, thoroughly amazed at being thus addressed, while a tear started into his eye: "not interfere Master Eugene? Well, I'm--I'm--I'm--regularly flabbergasted!" "My mind is made up," said Eugene, "and no persuasion shall alter its decision. I am my own master--my father's conduct has emancipated me from all deference to parental authority. Richard, you have brought my things? We must now say adieu." "My dearest brother----" "Master Eugene----" "Whither are you going?" "I am on the road to fame and fortune!" "Alas!" said Richard mournfully, "you may perhaps find that this world is not so fruitful in resources as you now imagine." "All remonstrances--all objections are vain," interrupted Eugene impatiently. "We must say adieu! But one word more," he added, after an instant's pause, as a sudden thought seemed to strike him; "_you_ doubt the possibility of my success in life, and I feel confident of it. Do _you_ pursue your career under the auspices of that parent in whose wisdom you so blindly repose: I will follow _mine_, dependent only on mine own resources. This is the 10th of July, 1831; twelve years hence, on the 10th of July, 1843, we will meet again upon this very spot, between the two trees, if they be still standing. Remember the appointment: we will _then_ compare notes relative to our success in life!" The moment he had uttered these words, Eugene hastily embraced his brother, who struggled in vain to retain him; and, having wrung the hand of the old butler, who was now sobbing like a child, the discarded son threw his little bundle over his shoulder, and hurried away from the spot. So precipitately did he descend the hill in the direction leading away from the mansion, and towards the multitudinous metropolis at a little distance, that he was out of sight before his brother or Whittingham even thought of pursuing him. They lingered for some time upon the summit of the hill, without exchanging a word; and then, maintaining the same silence, slowly retraced their steps towards the mansion. CHAPTER V. ELIGIBLE ACQUAINTANCES. Four years passed away.