I don't wonder at your being fond of the family."

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Why as to that you see, no one ever saw the Redwalds at home-in their own place-without feeling respect for them. They may say that my Lady Marchmont is an oddity, and a stupid old lady and all that people have said that I know. That's nothing to me. My motto, Mr.

Snobbins is 'Handsome is as handsome does," and I don't think that my Lady Marchmont ever did an unkind or unhand some thing to man, or woman, chick or child, since the hour she was born."

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"Well, but Miss Prabble," said Charlotte, though I suppose you learnt at Lady Marchmont's that we were here, you have not yet told us about it."

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Well, my duck, no more I have. Well

But Mrs. de Snobyn could endure no more. She gave the mystic signal and the ladies retired.

But it was long since Mr. de Snobyn

had experienced such a treat in his own house, and he very soon followed them to the drawing-room Ensconced there in his own large chair by the fire-side, he invited Miss Prabble to a seat next him, and a share of the little stand which held his coffee cup. She accepted it at once, and they had a very social gossip, if that can be called so where the talking is almost entirely on one side-and Mrs. de Snobyn contrived, not without some skilful management, to occupy her sons and daughters in another part of the room.

At length it struck her visitor that it was time to go-"quite time-she was so little of a gossip they would think she was lost at home-she shouldn't wonder if they had locked her out. May I trouble you sir," (to the butler who had entered with a note for his mistress)" or stay, you, my man," (to the footman who was arranging the fire,) seem younger and fitter for odd jobs will you call me a cab-see that there's nice clean straw inside will you;

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and mind you make the bargain before hand, for they are such cheats. And I say put my pattens inside, and an umbrella, and a macintosh cloak that I left in the hall. And I say, my good young man, see to it for me yourself, will you."

The man bowed and withdrew on the staircase he met the scullery maid, and asked her very indignantly what business she had in that part of the house. Having no business there she was very wisely mute. So he ordered her, on pain of his reporting her trespass, to tell the porter to get a cab for a queer body that wanted to go the Lord knew where.

Poor Bridget, anxious to propitiate so important a person as Thomas, did her errand without loss of time, and the cab was announced.

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Well, Mr. Snobbins, I've spent a charming evening a most delightful evening indeed. I'll come again, don't fear.”

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Do-do," said he, shaking both her

hands heartily; "come very soon-very soon-I'm very glad to see you."

"Yes, thank you, it shall be very soon indeed. And my dear Mrs. Snob-de Snobyn, I'm quite pleased to have found you, and looking so well and so handsome too. Good-bye young people, get to bed, or your roses will grow pale."

And having by this time shaken hands all round, and two or three times with Mr. de Snobyn, she departed to the infinite relief of her hostess.

But her pattering steps had hardly reached the hall, ere her shrill voice was heard, shriller than ever. Thomas had evidently neglected her orders. At length, however, Mrs. de Snobyn hoped that pattens, umbrella, and mackintosh cloak were all fairly in possession of their legal owner, for she heard her hall door closed, and the sound of wheels passing from its por

tal.

CHAPTER XVIII.

INSTANTLY, on the departure of Miss Prabble, Mrs. de Snobyn retired to rest, on the plea of extreme fatigue-but it may be supposed, that the eager remarks and questionings of her young people were deferred only till the next morning's breakfast.

"Mamma, where on earth did you pick up that aboriginal ?" was Helena's question, almost before the salutations of the day.