At the end of those three hours Mr Hallam passed, looking very thoughtful, and five minutes later James Thickens went home to his gold-fish and tea. "Took care Hallam didn't see him," chuckled Gemp, rubbing his hands. "Oh, the artfulness of these people! Thinks he has as good a right to marry as Hallam himself. Well, why not? Make him more staid and solid, better able to take care of the deeds and securities, and pounds, shillings, and pence, and--hullo!--hello!--hello! What's the meaning of this!" _This_ was the appearance of a couple coming from the direction of the doctor's house, and the couple were Miss Heathery, who had been spending a few hours with Millicent--in other words, seeing her preparations for the wedding--and Sir Gordon Bourne, who was going in her direction and walked home with her. "Why, Thickens didn't see her after all!" No: James Thickens had not seen her, and Miss Heathery had not seen James Thickens. "Who?" she cried, as soon as Sir Gordon had ceremoniously bidden her "Good-night," raising his curly brimmed hat, and putting it back. "Mr Thickens, ma'am," cried the little maid eagerly; "and when I told him you was out, he said, might he wait, and I showed him in the parlour." "And he's there now?" whispered Miss Heathery, who began tremblingly to take off the very old pair of gloves she kept for evening wear, the others being safe in her reticule. "No, ma'am, please he has been gone these ten minutes." "But what did he say?" cried Miss Heathery querulously. "Said he wanted to see you particular, ma'am." "Oh dear me; oh dear me!" sighed Miss Heathery. "Was ever anything so unfortunate? How could I tell that he would come when I was out?" VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER THIRTEEN. MR HALLAM HAS A VISITOR. Mysteries were painful to old Gemp. If any one had propounded a riddle, and gone away without supplying the answer, he would have been terribly aggrieved. He was still frowning, and trying to get over the mystery of why James Thickens should be at Miss Heathery's when that lady was out, and his ideas were turning in the direction of the little maid, when a wholesome stimulus was given to his thoughts by the arrival of the London coach, the alighting of whose passengers he had hardly once missed seeing for years. Hurrying up to the front of the "George," he was just in time to see a dashing-looking young fellow, who had just alighted from the box-seat, stretching his legs, and beating his boots with a cane. He had been giving orders for his little valise to be carried into the house, and was staring about him in the half-light, when he became aware of the fact that old Gemp was watching him curiously. He involuntarily turned away; but seeming to master himself, he turned back, and said sharply, "Where does Mr Hallam live?" "Mr Hallam!" cried Gemp eagerly; "bank's closed hours ago." "I didn't ask for the bank. Where is Mr Hallam's private residence?"