AndnowImustbringmystorytoaclose。
Theprecedingchapterwaswrittensoonaftertheeventsitrecords——
thatistosayinthespringof1867。Bythattimemystoryhadbeenwrittenuptothispoint；butithasbeenalteredhereandtherefromtimetotimeoccasionally。Itisnowtheautumnof1882，andifIamtosaymoreIshoulddosoquickly，forIameightyyearsoldandthoughwellinhealthcannotconcealfrommyselfthatIamnolongeryoung。Ernesthimselfisforty-seven，thoughhehardlylooksit。
Heisricherthanever，forhehasnevermarriedandhisLondonandNorth-Westernshareshavenearlydoubledthemselves。Throughsheerinabilitytospendhisincomehehasbeenobligedtohoardinself-
defence。HestilllivesintheTempleinthesameroomsItookforhimwhenhegaveuphisshop，fornoonehasbeenabletoinducehimtotakeahouse。Hishouse，hesays，iswhereverthereisagoodhotel。Whenheisintownhelikestoworkandtobequiet。Whenoutoftownhefeelsthathehasleftlittlebehindhimthatcangowrong，andhewouldnotliketobetiedtoasinglelocality。“I