I had a sudden vain relenting.

Repentance bludgeoned me.

As I had predicted to Nares, I stood and kicked myself.
Here was I come home again, my honour saved; there was my friend in want of rest, nursing, and a generous diet; and I asked myself with Falstaff, "What is in that word honour?
what is that honour ?" and, like Falstaff, I told myself that it was air.
"Jim!" said I.
"Loudon!" he gasped, and jumped from his chair and stood shaking.
The next moment I was over the barrier, and we were hand in hand.
"My poor old man!" I cried.
"Thank God, you're home at last!" he gulped, and kept patting my shoulder with his hand.
"I've no good news for you, Jim!" said I.
"You've come--that's the good news that I want," he replied.

"O, how I've longed for you, Loudon!" "I couldn't do what you wrote me," I said, lowering my voice.

"The creditors have it all.