He sat very still for a time, thinking of what he should do--Tiny's soft eyes haunting him the while, with their sad reproachful look. He had seen very little of her, but, sailor-like, his heart had gone with a bound to her who had won it; and he was even now accusing himself of being dilatory in his love. "Yes," he said, "I do love her, and very dearly. I'll see her, tell her frankly all, take her into my counsel, and she will believe me. I'm sure she will, and forgive me too. Humph! Forgive me for doing nothing. But I must talk to the old gentleman--propose in due form, ask his permission to visit his daughter, and the rest of it. Heigho! what a lot of formality there is in this life! I think I may cope with her, though. She looked so gently reproachful I could wait; but no, I mustn't do that. I'll call this afternoon and suffer the griffin. But those two fellows, why should they go up this morning? Evident that they did not see the ladies, for they were out. No wonder Van takes to making calls, seeing how I've neglected him and Flick. I wish Pratt were here. Where did he go?" "Thy slave obeys," said Pratt, who had approached unobserved upon the soft turf! "Should you have liked Van to hear what you said just now?" "No. Was I talking aloud?" said Trevor. "You were, and very fast," was the reply. "But what's the matter, Franky? What's the letter?" And he pointed to an open missive in his friend's hand. "It's about that I've come to you," said Pratt. "Read." Trevor took the note, glanced over it, and found it was an invitation to Mr Frank Pratt to dine at Tolcarne on the following Friday. This brought Trevor's thoughts back to the letters Lloyd had given him, and he hastily took them from his pocket, to find a similar invitation to the one Pratt had had placed in his hand. "That's lucky," he said, brightening. "Lucky--why?" said Pratt. "Because I want to go. But why are you looking so doleful?" "Natural aspect, Dick. I only came to tell you I should not go." "Not go! Why?" "Because I am going back to town." "Are you upset, Franky? Is anything wrong? I've been rude, I suppose, and said something that put you out this morning." "No--oh no!" "But I'm sure that must have been it. But really, old fellow, I was much obliged. Franky, you were quite right--it is as you say; so if I said anything when I was hipped, forgive me." "Dick, old fellow," cried Pratt, grasping the extended hand, "don't talk of forgiveness to me. I have been here too long; this idle life don't suit me, and I've got to work." "Work, then, and help me through my troubles. I can't spare you." "Dick, old fellow, I feel that I must go. Don't ask me why." "No, I won't ask you why," said Trevor, eyeing him curiously; "but, to oblige me, stay over this Friday, and go with me to the dinner." Pratt hesitated a moment. "Well, I will," he said; and the conversation ended.