Though Mr. Pepper was still wroth, he bit his lip in moody silence, and suffered not his passion to have its way; while Clifford rising, after a short pause, continued: "Look you, Mr. Pepper, you know my commands, consider them peremptory. I wish you success, and plenty! Farewell, gentlemen!"
"Do you leave us already?" cried Tomlinson; "you are offended."
"Surely not!" answered Clifford, retreating to the door: "But an engagement elsewhere, you know!"
"Ay, I take you!" said Tomlinson, following Clifford out of the room, and shutting the door after him.
"Ay, I take you!" added he, in a whisper, as he arrested Clifford at the head of the stairs. "But tell me, how do you get on with the heiress?"
Smothering that sensation at his heart which made Clifford, reckless as he was, enraged and ashamed, whenever, through the lips of his com-
