of men, women, and luggage was therefore made in great haste, and they who were now taking their new seats had hardly time to look about them.  An old gentleman, very red about the gills, first came into Johnny’s carriage, which up to that moment he had shared with an old lady.  The old gentleman was abusing everybody, because he was hurried, and would not take himself well into the compartment, but stuck in the doorway, standing on the step.

“Now, sir, when you’re quite at leisure,” said a voice behind the old man, which instantly made Eames start up in his seat.

“I’m not at all at leisure,” said the old man; “and I’m not going to break my legs if I know it.”

“Take your time, sir,” said the guard.

“So I mean,” said the old man, seating himself in the corner nearest to the open door, opposite to the old lady.  Then Eames saw plainly that it was Crosbie who had first spoken, and that he was getting into the carriage.

Crosbie at the first glance saw no one but the old gentleman and the old lady, and he immediately made for the unoccupied corner seat.  He was busy with his umbrella and his dressing-bag, and a little flustered by the pushing and hurrying.  The carriage was actually in motion before he perceived that John Eames was opposite to him:  Eames had, instinctively, drawn up his legs so as not to touch him.  He felt that he had become very red in the face, and to tell the truth, the perspiration had broken out upon his brow.  It was a great occasion,—­great in its imminent trouble, and great in its opportunity for action.  How was he to carry himself at the first moment of his recognition by his enemy, and what was he to do afterwards?

It need hardly be explained that Crosbie had also been spending his Christmas with a certain earl of his acquaintance, and that he too was returning to his office.  In one respect he had been much more fortunate than poor Eames, for he had been made happy with the smiles of his lady love.  Alexandrina and the countess had fluttered about him softly, treating him as a tame chattel, now belonging to the noble house of de Courcy, and in this way he had been initiated into the inner domesticities of that illustrious family.  The two extra men-servants, hired to wait upon Lady Dumbello, had vanished.  The champagne had ceased to flow in a perennial stream.  Lady Rosina had come out from her solitude, and had preached at him constantly.  Lady Margaretta had given him some lessons in economy.  The Honourable John, in spite of a late quarrel, had borrowed five pounds from him.  The Honourable George had engaged to come and stay with his sister during the next May.  The earl had used a father-in-law’s privilege, and had called him a fool.  Lady Alexandrina had told him more than once, in rather a tart voice, that this must be done, and that that must be done; and the countess had given him her orders as though it was his duty, in the course of nature, to obey every word that fell from her.  Such had been his Christmas delights; and now, as he returned back from the enjoyment of them, he found himself confronted in the railway carriage with Johnny Eames.