CHAPTER IX.

Happiness by proxy.

The window of Peter’s office faced east, and the rays of the morning sun shining dazzlingly in his eyes forced him back to a consciousness of things mundane.  He rose, and went downstairs, to find the night watch-man just opening the building.  Fortunately he had already met the man, so that he was not suspected as an intruder; and giving him a pleasant “good-morning,” Peter passed into the street.  It was a good morning indeed, with all that freshness and coolness which even a great city cannot take from a summer dawn.  For some reason Peter felt more encouraged.  Perhaps it was the consciousness of having beaten his loneliness and misery by mere physical endurance.  Perhaps it was only the natural spring of twenty years.  At all events, he felt dimly, that miserable and unhopeful as the future looked, he was not conquered yet; that he was going to fight on, come what might.

He turned to the river front, and after bargaining with a passing cart for a pint of what the poorer people of the city buy as milk, he turned north, and quickening his pace, walked till he had left the city proper and had reached the new avenue or “drive,” which, by the liberality of Mr. Tweed with other people’s money, was then just approaching completion.  After walking the length of it, he turned back to his boarding-place, and after a plunge, felt as if he could face and fight the future to any extent.

As a result of this he was for the first time late at breakfast The presider over the box-office had ascertained that Peter had spent the night out, and had concluded he would have a gird or two at him.  He failed, however, to carry out his intention.  It was not the first time that both he and his companions had decided to “roast” Peter, absent, but had done other wise with Peter, present.  He had also decided to say to Peter, “Who’s your dandy letter-writer?” But he also failed to do that.  This last intention referred to a letter that lay at Peters place, and which was examined by each of the four in turn.  That letter had an air about it.  It was written on linen paper of a grade which, if now common enough, was not so common at that time.  Then it was postmarked from one of the most, fashionable summer resorts of the country.  Finally, it was sealed with wax, then very unusual, and the wax bore the impression of a crest.  They were all rather disappointed when Peter put that letter in his pocket, without opening it.

Peter read the letter at his office that morning.  It was as follows: 

    Grey-court, July 21st.

    Dear.  Old man—­