"Pliny, will you utterly disappoint me?" said Theodore at last, breaking the silence. "Won't you promise me to seek this Helper of mine?" "How?" "Pray for his aid; it will surely be given. You trust me, you say; well, I promise you of a certainty that he stands ready to receive you. Will you begin to-day, Pliny?" "You will despise me if I tell you why I can not," Pliny said, hesitatingly, after a long, and, on Theodore's part, an anxious silence. "No, I shall not;" he answered, quickly. "Tell me." "Well then, it is because, whatever else I may have been, I have never played the hypocrite, and I have sense enough left to know that the effort which you desire me to make, will not accord with an engagement which I have this very evening." "What is it?" "To accompany Ben Phillips to the dance at the hotel on the turnpike, nine miles from here. I'm as sure that I will drink wine and brandy to-night, as I am that I lie here, in spite of all the helps in creation, or out of it. So what's the use?" "Will you give me one _great_ proof of your friendship, Pliny?" was Theodore's eager question. "I'll give you 'most anything quicker than I would any other mortal," answered Pliny, wearily. "Then will you promise me not to go with Phillips this evening?" "Ho!" said Pliny, affecting astonishment. "I thought you were a tremendous man of your word?" "There are circumstances under which I am not; if I promise to commit suicide, I am justified in saner moments in changing my mind." "I didn't exactly promise either," said Pliny, thoughtfully. "I had just brains enough left for that. Well, Mallery, I'll be hanged if I haven't a mind to promise you; I'm sure I've no desire to go, it's only that confounded way I have of blundering into engagements." "I'm waiting," said Theodore, gravely. "Well, I _won't_ go." "Thank you;" this time he smiled, and added: "How about the other matter, Pliny?" "That is different;" said Pliny, restlessly. "Not so easily decided on. I don't more than half understand you, and yet--yes, I know theoretically what you want of me. Theodore, I'll think of it." A little quickly checked sigh escaped Theodore; he must bide his time, but a great point had been gained. There came a tapping at the chamber door. Theodore went forward and opened it, and Pliny, listening, heard a clear, smoothly modulated voice ask: "Will your friend take breakfast with you, Theodore, and have you any directions?" "No special directions," answered Theodore, smiling. "Is that a hint that we are woefully late, Winny? It is too bad; we will be down very soon now." "I'm a selfish dog, with all the rest," Pliny said, sighing heavily, as he went around making a hurried toilet. "How is it that you have any time to waste on a wretch like myself? Did you ever have your head whirl around like a spinning wheel, Mallery?"