moment, and an hour later when Browning, radiant, joyous, and exulting,
returned, he found him there, still holding the unlighted cigar in his
mouth, his feet still on the table, and a puzzled, undecided, and
absorbed look on his face.

Browning rushed up to him, crying, "Jim, congratulate me, I have seen
her, and it is all settled. She is an angel, Jim, and she has promised to
be my wife. O, but God is good to me."

"I am glad, old man, I rejoice with you," said Sedgwick. "I hope with all
my heart no cloud will ever cross the sunshine of your lives." Then he
relapsed again into his moody way.

"What ails you, Jim?" asked Browning. "Does this great babel oppress your
spirits?"

"I believe it does, Jack," he answered. "I was just thinking as you came
in that I had better pull out for home. The atmosphere here is like a
drift without any air-pipe."

"Nonsense," said Browning; "you cannot go. You must wait for my wedding.
It would be all spoiled without you. I was planning it on the way. It
will be in the church, of course, just before midday. You will be the
best man--as usual. You and my sister shall do the honors that day. All
my friends will be there. I will have the church smothered in flowers.
I will corrupt the organist, bribe the choir, double-bank the preacher in
advance, and we will all have a rousing time. We will, by Jove!"

Sedgwick smiled at his friend's happiness, and said: "Did you ever think
that maybe I would be a little out of training for a performance of that