value thoroughly. We had filled whole drawing-books with wriggling
twists of foliage in B B B marking pencil, and had just been
promoted to water-colours; and she was beginning to sing very
prettily. I feared, too, that I should no longer have a chance of
rivalling Griffith's university studies. All this, with my sister's
girl friends, and those kind people who used to drop in to play
chess, and otherwise amuse me, would all be left behind; and, sorest
of all, Clarence, who, whatever he was in the eyes of others, had
grown to be my mainstay during this last year. He it was who
fetched me from the Museum, took me into the gardens, helped me up
and down stairs, spared no pains to rout out whatever my fanciful
pursuits required from shops in the City, and, in very truth, spoilt
me through all his hours that were free from business, besides being
my most perfect sympathising and understanding companion.

I feared, too, that he would be terribly lonesome, though of late he
had been less haunted by longings for the sea, had made some way
with his fellows, and had been commended by the managing clerk; and
it was painful to find the elders did not grieve on their own
account at parting with him. My mother told the Admiral that she
thought it would be good for Mr. Winslow's spirits not to be
continually reminded of his trouble; and my father might be heard
confiding to Mr. Castleford that the separation might be good for
both her and her son, if only the lad could be trusted. To which
that good man replied by giving him an excellent character; but was
only met by a sigh, and 'Well, we shall see!'

Clarence was to be lodged with Peter, whose devotion would not
extend to following us into barbarism, where, as he told us, he
understood there was no such thing as a 'harea,' and master would