very welcome just now , " thought Hugh.
But he did not allow himself to be too
sanguine; knowing that Mr. Frost's ideas
of his advantage were a little at variance
with his own. He sent a line back by the
messenger to say that he would be with
Mr. Frost a few minutes after five. And
as soon as he left his office, he made for
Bedford-square.

Mr. Frost received him in his private
room, with all his accustomed kindness of
manner, and bade him be seated in the
purple leather chair opposite his own.

"Well, Hugh, and how goes on business?
You are still with Digby and West,
I suppose?"

"Yes; for the present."

"When I went away, you had some idea
of leaving them, and setting up for yourself."

"I have the idea still, sir. But it is a
mighty difficult idea to carry out."

"Naturally! And I hope you will do
nothing rashly. You know the homely
proverb about not throwing away the dirty
water before you have got the clean."

"I shouldn't call Digby and West dirty
water. They have behaved very
handsomely to me. But as to your proverb, if a
man were always content to stay as he is,
it would be a poor business for the world in
general."

"I have not been unmindful of you
whilst I have been away, Hugh. I have had
your interests in view. And I come back
empowered to make you an offer."

"Thank you, with all my heart, for
kindly thinking of me."

"Oh that is nothing. I consider myself
bound—  I am your father's old friend, you
know. There is nothing to thank me for.
But I hope you will consider my news good
news."

"Whatever I think, I shall not be the
less obliged to you for your good-will."

Mr. Frost perceived that Hugh was not
going to bind himself blindfold to accept
whatever should be offered him: he saw
that there was a quiet preparation on the
young man's part for making resistance if
resistance should be necessary.

"Well, I am commissioned by the
Directors of the Parthenope Embellishment
Company, to offer you an engagement as
assistant architect and surveyor to the
works they are employed on, at Naples.
And if you will cast your eyes over this
letter of the secretary to me, and over these
papers, I think you will allow that the offer
is not a bad one."

Mr. Frost pushed the letter and papers
across the table as he spoke.

Hugh read them attentively. And then
raising his eyes to Mr. Frost's face, said,
"The offer is a most liberal—I may say an
extraordinarily liberal—one, indeed."

"The fact is that nearly all the power
would be in your hands. They have a big
name on their prospectus to catch the public,
of course. But the man with the big name
would be in London. And I dare say
would practically trouble himself very little
about the works."

"But the assistant architect would have
to reside at Naples?"

"It is a charming place. One does not
get many opportunities of being paid to go
and live in such a lovely spot. Upon my
word, I should think a year or so's residence
at Naples the most tempting part of the
business!"

"Not to me, Mr. Frost."

"Well, to be sure, the other advantages
are substantially greater."

"They are very great, no doubt. But—
the fact is, I cannot avail myself of them."

"My dear Hugh! You don't mean to
say that you will be so——But I won't be
angry with you. And I won't take you at
your word. What possible reason can there
be against the scheme?"

"I hate to seem so ungracious:
ungrateful, I assure you I am not. The truth
is there are several reasons against it,
which all seem good and sufficient to me."

"Might one ask what they are?"

"It is really not so easy to explain
them."

"Excuse me, Hugh, but in general when
a man can't explain his reasons, I take it
they are not clear to his own mind; or else
that he is ashamed of them."

"I am certainly not ashamed of mine,"
answered Hugh, good-humouredly.

"And you really mean to throw up this
prospect without more reflection?"

"I do not believe that further reflection
would alter my intentions. And besides,
you know, it would not be fair that I should
hesitate too long. Since it is so desirable
a thing, there will doubtless be plenty of
candidates for it."

"I dare say the position will not go
a-begging," answered Mr. Frost, stiffly.

"Look here, Mr. Frost. You know that I
am not ungrateful for your kind interest in
me. But I am not a child, and I must be
allowed to judge for myself in this matter."

"Oh, certainly!"

"Now you are angry with me. And yet