"What was that?" Richard shook his head, and they were silent as the train rushed on. "Life is a strange mystery, Dick," said Pratt at last, laying his hand on his friend's knee; "and I know it is giving you great pain to come down here and see others happy. It is to give them pleasure you are coming down?" Richard nodded. "Last time we were down here together, Dick, I was one of the most miserable little beggars under the sun. I don't mind owning it now." His friend grew more attentive. "You were happy then, old fellow, and very hard you tried to make others so too, but I was miserable." "Why?" "Because I was poor--a perfect beggar, without a prospect of rising, and I had found out that in this queer little body of mine there was a very soft heart. Dick, old boy, the wheel of fortune has given a strange turn since then. I've gone up and you have gone down, and 'pon my soul, old fellow, I'm very, very sorry." "Nonsense, Franky," said Richard, speaking cheerfully. "If ever a man was glad, I am, at your prosperity. But you don't look so very cheerful, after all." "How can I?" said Frank, dolefully, "with you on my mind for one thing, and the lion's mouth gaping for my unlucky head." "Lion's mouth?" "Yes, Dick; I'm going to Tolcarne to pop my head in; and, to make matters worse, there's a horrible, sphinxy griffin sits and guards the lion's den." "You mean that you are going to propose for little Fin?" "I am, Dick, I am," said Pratt, excitedly. "I wouldn't have said a word if I had kept poor, but with my rising income--" "And some one's permission?" "Bless her, yes; she says she hates me, and always shall, till her sister's happy, but I may ask papa, so as to get rid of poor Flick and his persecutions. I believe the poor chap cares for her; but I can't afford to let him have her, and make her miserable--eh, Dick?" "Frank, old fellow, I wish you joy, and I'm glad of it, for she's a dear little girl." "Oh, that don't express it within a hundred," said Pratt. "Dear little girl! That's the smallest of small beer, while she's the finest vintage of champagne. But, I say, Dick, old fellow, you've got to help me over this." "I? How?" "She says she shall hate me till her sister's happy; and, Dick, old fellow, there's only one way of making Valentina Rea happy, and that you know. There--there--I've done. Don't look at me like that. Fortune's wheel keeps turning on: I shall be down in the mud again soon, and you cock-a-hoop on the top. Do you stick to your purpose of not going on to-night?" "Yes, I shall go on in the morning from Plymouth, be present at the wedding, and then come away." "But you'll go and see the old people? Dick, recollect Mrs Lloyd did all out of love and pride in her boy." "Yes, I have made up my mind to go and see them," said Richard, quietly. "I'll try and be a dutiful son."