"I don't care. Have you time to play a game?" replied Henry. "Oh, yes. We're not very busy at the store to-day." So the two young men ascended to the billiard-room, and spent a couple of hours there. Both played very well, and were pretty equally matched. From the billiard-room, they proceeded to another part of the house, more retired, and there, at the suggestion of Barling, tried a game at cards for a small stake. Young Darlington was loser at first, but, after a time, regained his losses and made some advance on his fellow-player. Hours passed in playing and drinking; and finally, Darlington, whose good fortune did not continue, parted with every sixpence. "Lend me a dollar," said he as the last game went against him. The dollar was lent, and the playing renewed. Thus it went on, hour after hour, neither of the young men stopping to eat any thing, though both drank too frequently. At last, Darlington was ten dollars in debt to Barling, who, on being asked for another loan, declined any further advances. Stung by the refusal, Henry said to him, rising as he spoke-- "Do you mean by this that you are afraid I will never return the money?" "Oh, no," replied Barling. "But I don't want to play against you any longer. Your luck is bad." "I can beat you," said Darlington. "You hav'n't done it to-day certainly," answered Barling. "Will you wait here a quarter of an hour?" asked Henry. "For what?" "I want to pay you off and begin again. I am going for some money." "Yes, I'll wait," replied the young man. "Very well. I'll be back in a few minutes." It was for this work and for this purpose that Henry Darlington came to his mother just at the moment the absence of Miriam and her purpose in leaving had been discovered. The effect of the painful news on the young man has already been described. From the time he became aware of the fact that Miriam had gone away with Burton for the purpose of becoming his wife, until ten o'clock at night, he was in an agony of suspense. As the uncle could not be found at the office where he wrote, nor at the house where he boarded, it was concluded that he had reached the boat before its departure, and gone on with the fugitives in the train to New York. Nothing was therefore left for the distressed family but to await his return. How anxiously passed the hours! At tea time Edith only made her appearance. Henry and his mother remained in the chamber of the latter. As for the young man, he was cast down and distressed beyond measure, vexing his spirit with self-accusations that were but too well founded.