The Man Who Rose Again

became less hopeless, and he did not drink so freely. It might seem as though an evening spent in the society of a good woman had a beneficia

Could it be that Leicester meant to reform, or did it mean that he was si

sometimes at the club, but spoke little. Moreover, in public he

a new leaf?" asked

t playing the game,

you sa

hould win her on the understanding t

don't object t

d if he did, only in that case all the

he other Leicester entered the room. He looked even paler than usual, and the dark rings around his eyes suggested pain eith

you, Le

stly headache

each other significantly, a

clusions. I have not been drinking.

hing happe

as to be written to, and the other man has to have a certain

ur career be th

areer," he

ay that, old man, but a

ha

e in Parliament, and your fut

two men an

t's my affa

man; but it is our affair too.

to a sentiment which was m

cherished anger in his heart towards Leicester. He felt that this man despised him, and

is afraid to fight,"

ester was in a nervous condition that night. His abstention from spirits was telling on him

mean, Sprague

aid Sprague. "He has found out that the citadel cannot be eas

rts he was ashamed of the whole business, but he felt he wo

who seemed anxious to pay off old scores. "Who knows? we

like Sprague was too much. He seemed about to give vent to an insulting remark, then

in answer to

y," he

r a small

a bottle," he

er, don't do th

t do

art drink

elmed with anger. How dare these

ntrol of my actions came within your province?"

d man. I'm sure you are ashame

busi

r have thought of it if you hadn't been drinking too much; and r

ead looked eagerly towards the wa

a glass, and then, having added a small qua

wn the glass empty, "that for yo

his equanimity, and it also brought back t

ch courage," remarked Sprague, who seemed

you can tell your mother that I shall not assist you in your drawing-room meetings. By the way,

is cheeks, the old light

penting, eh? And you had all your texts, and your rag-tags of advice to pour into my willing ears. Tell me, Sprague,

ink for a whole week for one

t misdeeds. I repent of my backsliding, my dear

l with a steady hand, and looke

omen speakers say so eloquently at those dear drawing-room meeti

d. He was ashamed of what had taken place, and had sincerely hoped th

Leicester," he said, "and

e game. No, my friends, I stand by what I said, and what is more, I am going to carry it through. I am not converted to yo

afraid of the man. He spoke quietly, and yet the str

none of my sentiments. I'll win this woman under no false colours. Why should I? There is no ne

hould think your visit to Mr. Castlemaine's woul

sion it showed no effects on his perfect articulation, and while he spoke very quietly,

you spare me? Did you not, with great and loyal friendship, give both Mr. and Miss Castlemaine your views concerning me? Did you not tell Miss Castlemaine of my reputation at Oxford, an

e," said Purvis, looking on

so miserable about it. Well, I did my worst

tter to Purvi

to rea

did I gi

ead it. It was an invitation t

oing?" ask

y slip? Oh, you need not be afraid to show it to Sprague. It is no

eans nothing,

gation. And yet she knows that I am-well-all you've described me to be. I am an atheist, I've thrown copybook morals overboard, I am a hard drinker. But what then? I

dinner means nothi

fication of my statements," he persisted. "Good-n

ual passer-by, if he had met him, would at t

he had for several days been fighting against the craving for alcohol. He realised more than any man the mastery which it had gained over him, and he knew that unless he conquered the habit, he would soon be a slave to it, body and soul. An evening spent in the soci

had done became more and more repugnant, and when he entered the room where Sprague

ssible that the affair, which did not reflect credit upon any of them, might have been dismissed as an idle joke. As we have seen, however, they had taunted him, they had aroused him to anger; these men whom he regarded as his inferiors had assumed an air of superiority, and th

nce fell between the two

such fools, Sprague,"

do you

d as he is, perhaps worse

uld have thought that he

en wise to-night he might have been led to

rom the wound which her refusal had made; "but there-it's all right. It'll never come to anything

ou wou

hy

s all to our last day, because she would never spe

e was

e is giving, or is Leicester invited in a

seeing Mr. Castlemaine has writt

told Mr. Castlemaine

oked unco

n, although it is perfectly true that he talked in his usual mocking way during a part of the evening, he altered his tone before he left. Evidently he found Miss Castlemaine to be a congenial companion, for he grew quite earnest in his conversation, and you know that when he is earnest, he is nothing short of b

he'll carry this

hing he'll go straight on. Ordinary considerations do not daunt him. Refusals will only make him more determined. Besides, you

is not the kind of woman to be carried away by a handsome presence a

gth. Do you know her favou

N

admires most are Luther, Rich

us combi

teristics. All of them were strong men, men wh

r has not dared

n a room, every one else is put in the shade, that is if he cares to exert hims

When did you say he was inv

hursday

e invited too,

?-perhaps

themselves sitting not only in close proximity to Leicester, but also to Miss Olive Castl

they met in some brilliant society throng, they would have been just as noteworthy. Moreover, this was one of those nights when

their turn. Society scandal was not indulged in, and the sayings and doings of actresses and music-hall singers were not to be mentioned. Thus, when one comes to think about it, the conversation was of a considerably higher standard

hey were thinking, and more, he felt certain that if his host and hostess were aware of the circumstances which led to his being their guest that night, a servant would have shown him to the door. Moreover, although he was

of self-sacrifice which had been practised by Members of Parliamen

that," remarked Purvis. "He is of

s were turned t

, "I believe the self-sacrific

s opinion of late," remarked Sprague

that hosts of these men sacrifice themselves a great deal. If you

for Taviton sacrific

My dear Sprague, you have hit off the

himself," remarked Olive Castlemaine, lo

nclined to think that the people who are called self-sa

ester, you don't beli

e where only four could take part. Well, four of them were self-sacrificing people, and wanted to give way to the others. Two were selfish, and desired to engage in the g

he spoke that Olive Cast

g themselves and everybody else uncomfortable, under the pretence that they were trying to make us comfortable. Of this I am

n he had found it," r

moral and unselfish people are the most disagreeable to deal with? This I can say t

would you

can any reasonable man say that the English, with all their

bushel," said Sprague to Purvis, after dinner, during

see that Miss Castlemai

he believes he is

at she thinks h

act

and although she did not feel quite comfortable in his presence, his personality fascinated her. Indeed, he became quite an enigma to her. Sometimes, when the cynical side of his nature

reflected what a fine man Radford Leicester would be if the sad, hopeless spi

do it?" she asked her