HARK FORRARD! 33 



many a time and oft how she could prefer an 

 old fossil like himself to a fine young fellow 

 like Reginald, still he accepted the good the 

 gods provided and basked in the sunshine of 

 her charms, the only drop of bitterness in the 

 cup being that the inevitable hour of parting 

 must come, and that it was indeed approaching 

 with terrible rapidity. 



