He went hastily to the river side and crossed to Jersey City.

“They have sent to say that the ship sails at nine in the morning, and that we must be on board early,” said Kitty Dunham, as he entered the room.

“I am all ready,” he replied, in a clear, cold, alert voice.  “Now sit down.”

His tone was not to be resisted.  The woman seated herself quietly and waited.

“My affectionate Uncle Lawrence has given me a large sum of money, and recommends travelling for my health.  The money is in bills on London and Paris.  To-morrow morning we sail.  We post to London—­get the money; same day to Paris—­get the money; straight on to Marseilles, and sail for Sicily.  There we can take breath.”

He spoke rapidly, but calmly.  She heard and understood every word.

“I wish we could sail to-night,” she said.

“Plenty of time—­plenty of time,” answered Abel.  “And why be so anxious for so long a journey?”

“It seems long to you, too?”

“Why, yes; it will be long.  Yes, I am going on a long journey.”

He smiled with the hard black eyes a hard black smile.  Kitty did not smile; but she took his hand gently.

Abel shook his head, mockingly.

“My dear Mrs. Delilah Jones, you overcome me with your sentimentality.  I don’t believe in love.  That’s what I believe in,” said he, as he opened his pocket-book and showed her the bills.

The woman looked at them unmoved.

“Those are the delicate little keys of the Future,” chuckled Abel, as he gloated over the paper.

The woman raised her eyes and looked into his.  They were busy with the bills.  Then with the same low tone, as if the wind were wailing, she asked,

“Abel, tell me, before we go upon this long journey, don’t you love me in the least?”

Her voice sank into an almost inaudible whisper.

Abel turned and looked at her, gayly.

“Love you?  Why, woman, what is love?  No, I don’t love you.  I don’t love any body.  But that’s no matter; you shall go with me as if I did.  You know, as well as I do, that I can’t whine and sing silly.  I’ll be your friend, and you’ll be mine, and this shall be the friend of both,” said he, as he raised the bills in his hands.

She sat beside him silent, and her eyes were hot and dry, not wet with tears.  There was a look of woe in her face so touching and appealing that, when Abel happened to see it, he said, involuntarily,

“Come, come, don’t be silly.”

The evening came, and the Honorable Mr. Newt rose and walked about the room.

“How slowly the time passes!” he said, pettishly.  “I can’t stand it.”

It was nine o’clock.  Suddenly he sprang up from beside Kitty Dunham, who was silently working.

“No,” said he, “I really can not stand it.  I’ll run over to town, and be back by midnight.  I do want to see the old place once more before that long journey,” he added, with emphasis, as he put on his coat and hat.  He ran from the room, and was just going out of the house when he heard a muffled voice calling to him from up stairs.