"If you can find any pleasure in our rather dull home," replied Hallett. "Good--" He was going to say, "gracious," but he refrained, and looked in a puzzled and amused way at Mr Jabez, who had kicked out one leg under the table, and his foot had come in contact with his host. "Spasm!" said Mr Jabez abruptly; and when Tom Girtley went down with me the old man remained. "Well, Tom, what do you think of my friends the Halletts?" I said, as we went down to the door. "I'm delighted with them," he cried. "I like Hallett; and as for his sister--I say, Tony, are you making play there?" "Making play?" "There, don't be so innocent, man alive! Are you in love with her?" "What nonsense! No." "Then I am," he said. "I wouldn't have poached on your preserves, but it's all over with me now. Alas, poor me! so soon, and I am barely twenty. Good-night, old boy, and thanks for a pleasant evening." "Don't be in such a hurry," I exclaimed. "I'm going a little way with you." He was in high spirits, and we were just crossing the street, when we came suddenly upon John Lister--so suddenly, that Tom observed my start. "Who's that?" he said quickly. "One of our black clouds," I said bitterly. "Black clouds?" he said, in a puzzled tone. "And yours, too," I said, "if you talk like you did just now." "I like solving knotty points," he said; "but you must give me a clue." "Not to-night, Tom," I said. "Say good-night now. Some other time." "All right, my mysterious youth," he cried, laughing; and after shaking hands, I hurried back, to find Mr Jabez standing at the door. "Oh, here you are," he said. "I am just waiting to say good-night. I say, Grace, is that fellow square?" "I believe him to be a thorough scoundrel," I said angrily. "He seems quite taken with little Linny there." "I know that," I said bitterly. "And yet you brought him here, sir." "I? Brought him here?" I exclaimed. "It was going on before I knew them." "What! that boy--that parchment slip?" he exclaimed. "No, no," I said hastily. "I meant John Lister." As the words were leaving my lips, he of whom I spoke passed by on the other side, and turned his face to look up at the second floor, the light from a gas-lamp making his countenance perfectly clear. "Oh!" said Mr Jabez softly; and, after standing watching the retiring figure, he too went his way. CHAPTER FIFTY THREE. MY VISITOR. Two years of hard work rapidly passed away, during which, I suppose, I made rapid progress in my profession, and also had the satisfaction of seeing Hallett's machine grow towards perfection. It had progressed slowly, in spite of the energy brought to bear, for Hallett toiled at it patiently and well; but the work was for the most part out of his hands now.