FAREWELL. 265 



times will never again be like the old. New interests, new 

 companions, new ambitions, all will leave their mark and have 

 their influence, although this I am sure of, that the memory of 

 this glorious partnership of three will always remain green and 

 fresh with them, and have the greatest of all influences on their 

 future lives. 



Mr. Meredith had invited all three of them to dinner, and 

 when Mrs. Meredith had retired the conversation grew more 

 personal and confidential. They looked upon Mr. Meredith 

 as an intimate friend and counsellor, as well as a tutor and 

 schoolmaster, and they told him their plans and hopes, just as 

 if he were one of themselves. 



Presently a silence fell upon the table. Frank looked at 

 Dick, and Dick looked at Frank, and Jimmy kicked him under 

 the table, and at last Frank cleared his throat with a prepara- 

 tory " ahem " and said, 



" I am not good at making speeches, Mr. Meredith, but we 

 wish to express how very much obliged we have been to you 

 for the kindness and the in fact the the well, what we 

 mean to say is that you are a brick of a good fellow, sir." 



" What an awful muddle you have made of it, Frank," said 

 Dick, in a reproachful whisper, and Jimmy launched a vicious 

 kick at him under the table. 



There was a twinkle in Mr. Meredith's eye as he drank off 

 his wine, which was partly due to mirth, and partly to a deeper 

 feeling. He said, 



" I know what you mean, Frank, and in return I may say, 

 that I am both glad and sorry that the hour has come for us to 

 part for a time. I am sorry, because I have much enjoyed your 

 companionship for the last three years, and I believe you have 

 done me as much good as I have done you. I am glad, 

 because you have become such fine young fellows, and I have 

 had a hand in the making of you, and you must do us all 

 credit. Jimmy will make a good lawyer, I think ; and he must 

 remember that the law is an honourable profession, and that 

 lawyers take the place of the knights of old ; they must do all 

 they can to succour the widows and fatherless, and never allow 

 themselves to be made instruments of oppression. I will give 

 Jimmy just one piece of advice :. Go straight, and never 

 attempt to finesse. I believe that this clever finessing, and 

 attempting to outdo other lawyers in cleverness, has been the 



