his applause. He began rather to like Millbank; we will not say because
Millbank was the unintentional cause of his pleasurable sensations. Really
it was that the unusual circumstances had prompted him to a more impartial
judgment of his rival's character. In this mood, the day after the visit
of Buckhurst and Henry Sydney, Coningsby called on Millbank, but finding
his medical attendant with him, Coningsby availed himself of that excuse
for going away without seeing him.

The next day he left Millbank a newspaper on his way to school, time not
permitting a visit. Two days after, going into his room, he found on his
table a letter addressed to 'Harry Coningsby, Esq.'

ETON, May--, 1832.

'DEAR CONINGSBY, I very much fear that you must think me a very ungrateful
fellow, because you have not heard from me before; but I was in hopes that
I might get out and say to you what I feel; but whether I speak or write,
it is quite impossible for me to make you understand the feelings of my
heart to you. Now, I will say at once, that I have always liked you better
than any fellow in the school, and always thought you the cleverest;
indeed, I always thought that there was no one like you; but I never would
say this or show this, because you never seemed to care for me, and
because I was afraid you would think I merely wanted to con with you, as
they used to say of some other fellows, whose names I will not mention,
because they always tried to do so with Henry Sydney and you. I do not
want this at all; but I want, though we may not speak to each other more
than before, that we may be friends; and that you will always know that
there is nothing I will not do for you, and that I like you better than
any fellow at Eton. And I do not mean that this shall be only at Eton, but
afterwards, wherever we may be, that you will always remember that there