million! Yet I believe those who make millions generally begin with
pence."

"That belief should be a comfort and encouragement to you, Vivian. And
now, good-night; I have much to do."

"Good-night, then," said Vivian, and we parted.

I made my way to Mr. Trevanion's house and to the study. There was a
formidable arrear of business waiting for me, and I sat down to it at
first resolutely; but by degrees I found my thoughts wandering from the
eternal blue-books, and the pen slipped from my hand in the midst of an
extract from a Report on Sierra Leone. My pulse beat loud and quick; I
was in that state of nervous fever which only emotion can occasion. The
sweet voice of Fanny rang in my ears; her eyes, as I had last met them,
unusually gentle, almost beseeching, gazed upon me wherever I turned;
and then, as in mockery, I heard again those words,--"One ought to be an
earl at least to aspire to-" Oh! did I aspire? Was I vain fool so
frantic, household traitor so consummate? No, no! Then what did I
under the same roof? Why stay to imbibe this sweet poison that was
corroding the very springs of my life? At that self-question, which,
had I been but a year or two older, I should have asked long before, a
mortal terror seized me; the blood rushed from my heart and left me
cold, icy cold. To leave the house, leave Fanny! Never again to see
those eyes, never to hear that voice! Better die of the sweet poison
than of the desolate exile! I rose, I opened the windows; I walked to
and fro the room; I could decide nothing, think of nothing; all my mind
was in an uproar. With a violent effort at self-mastery, I approached
the table again. I resolved to force myself to my task, if it were only
to re-collect my faculties and enable them to bear my own torture. I