"Why can't you come back and have poor little pussey, you pretend to be so fond of, instead of sleeping out as you say you are going to do?"

But he released himself as kindly as possible from the loving embrace, for fear his rising p — k should lead him to give way to her endearments, and spoil him for the spree on hand.

"You'll get tipsy, and perhaps be locked up," she said with a pout, as he skipped downstairs.

He found Harry and Frank quite ready to start, and all three walked off in the highest possible animal spirits. They walked along Oxford Street and down Regent Street, so as to get into Coventry Street just as the theatres and music halls had dispersed their audiences to swell the usually crowded thoroughfare. A bevy of students were creating a disturbance, and hustling everyone off the pavement, bonneting the policeman, and behaving very roughly, even to delicate girls who might get in their way.

"Oh, do protect me, and see me safe through the crowd!" said a sweet, pretty well but modestly dressed girl about seventeen; those students always frighten me so!"

"There's three of us, and well see you safe. Where do you want to go?"

"My brougham is waiting by Swan and Edgar's, in Regent Street; if you will see me so far, I shall be so obliged."

"And no further?" enquired Charlie.

"Well I didn't like to be so forward; besides, you would not like to leave your friends," she said, quietly.

"Take us, too," said Harry; "have you no lady friends you could ask to join the party; you must know a couple of pretty girls, for we want to make a night of it."

"Quick, then; or we may lose them. If not engaged I promised to call before twelve at Blanchard's for two young friends and drive them home; you will be delighted if we find them; and I am pleased enough with my partner," she said, pressing Charlie's arm, and looking archly in his face, with an expression which spoke a whole volume of voluptuousness.