all his tribe!"

And now he feared, seek as he would, the pearl could never again be his. But he banished, as well as he was able, the self-upbraiding spirit. He had made his choice and he would unflinchingly abide by it.

CHAPTER XVIII.

"Then might the man

That's weary of the world, and tired of life,
At once give each inquietude the slip,

By stealing out of being.

Who could force

The ill-pleased guest to sit out his full time,

Or blame him if he goes?

And yet to run away

Is but a coward's trick-To run away

And boldly venture on a world unknown,

By plunging headlong in the dark-'Tis mad!
No frenzy half so desperate as this!"

BLAIR.

THE world, wealth, honour, Hardy had taken against peace, love, and Harriet, and he shrank not from his election-only he ac

cused himself for not having secured love and Harriet with those other greater blessings.

Nothing, however, was yet secured, even as to the choice which he had made; and soon how much he could endure, in his determined pursuit of wealth and honour, was to be put to the test. What the unconquerable will can do for him it must now do.

"Heaven first taught letters for some wretch's aid," said the love-oppressed man. Pray who, or what, taught bills of exchange? If from above came the gentle art of letterwriting, whence came the noble science of bill-drawing? For what distressed wretch's aid was it invented? To answer these questions was not Hardy's business, nor is it mine. Neither of us has leisure for it.

For some time his partner and he seemed to be going on swimmingly; then little obstacles presented themselves now and again-afterwards there were difficulties, but they were surmounted. Then followed an

It

embarrassment-it would be temporarythat was certain, if it were got over soon. was suggested that all could be made smooth without loss of time by assistance from Benjamin's uncle.

"But I shall not apply to him," said the younger partner to the older, "without laying the state of our affairs distinctly before him."

"Certainly not," replied the elder, "I will give it you in writing myself. It is quite a simple matter-a very plain statement."

The simple matter-the plain statementwas drawn up; and then it was suggested that Hardy had better take a run down to his uncle. He could in person better satisfy him of the correctness of their transactions— it would appear more open, more candid― he would, in short, be more sure of success. Before an hour had passed he was on the road.

As he had before visited the village for cash, he now visits it for the sinews of commerce-credit. He has scarcely time to unfold his business when bills, much in want of an acceptor, follow him. Pressing demands are made, but in his usual brusque, plain way, by the partner. Short and good reasons are given for his urgency, and most satisfactory accounts of the turn which their affairs are taking, and Benjamin is requested to proceed at once to London about a vessel which had put in there.

Honest John hesitated not in this emergency to aid his nephew, towards whom a new feeling of affection had sprung up in his bosom on his former visit. Benjamin, softened by his generous confidence, took leave of that excellent being with emotions of tenderness such as he had never before experienced.

He was detained some weeks in London by one piece of business or another given