continued he, looking as white as a sheet, and wholly exhausted by the exertion, “at Bungalapumbungabad, up the country, where I was carried in my palkee to get somebody to look at some indigo which I wanted to buy, I met with a Mr. Smigsmag and his wife,-nice woman, upon my word, —I did not cultivate their acquaintance much, because he lived more than half a mile from my bungalow, and I was merely a visiter,-but I dined with him once or twice, and we played whist; and his wife and he always played together;-oh, dear! Kitty, give me the eau de Cologne, dear, -isn't she grown, Mrs. Brandyball, eh?-and so-I found out that I never could win against Smigsmag and his wife, -he was a Burrah Saab-a resident-excellent man in his way, and so-one night I mentioned this to my friend who played with me, and who, being an expectant creature, was obliged to make up their table when asked-I, you know, had nothing to do with John Company, and didn't care a cowrie for all Leadenhall-street put together, and he said (in confidence of course) to me-You never can win of them.' 'Why?' said I. Because,' said he, they have established a code.' 'Dear me!' said I; 'what, signals by looks?' 'No,' said he; by words. If Mrs. Smigsmag is to lead, Smigsmag says, "Dear, begin.", Dear begins with D, so does diamond, and out comes a diamond from the lady. If he has to lead, and she says “S., my love, play,” she wants a spade. Smigsmag and spade begin with the same letter, and, sure enough, down comes a spade. "Harriet, my dear," says Smigsmag, "how long you are sorting your cards." Mrs. Smigsmag stumps down a heart: and a gentle "Come, my love," on either side, infallibly produces a club.' I can't stand these family compacts, Gilbert.” I was delighted to find Cuthbert equal to so much exertion as was required in telling this story, which produced an observation from Sniggs that whatever the Smigsmags gained by tricks they could not make much by their honours. At which Galenic effusion Mrs. Brandyball fell into a fit of laughter, and little Jane, who did not understand in the slightest degree what it meant, shook her flaxen curls like a newly washed poodle. "I am sorry," said Harriet to Cuthbert, "that you have so bad an opinion of us; I never should have thought of such a scheme.' 66 But," said Sniggs, "like the ostler and the priest, now you have been told how the matter may be managed, perhaps you will avail yourselves of the information." 66 No," said Cuthbert, "I don't suspect them. As for my- self, I could not take the trouble to recollect what letter the names of the different suits begin with." "Shall I," said Mrs. Brandyball, "relieve you from the exertion of arranging your cards? Allow me: many hands make light work. Every condition has its troubles; without a friend, the world is a wilderness!" 66 Saying which, the officious lady sorted Cuthbert's hand for him, and resumed her place at his side, Katharine sitting on his left; and in this fashion we went through the prescribed rubbers, just before the conclusion of which the servants prepared a tray" in the ante-room, which Sniggs invariably called "an excellent trait in our character;" and `round which, I must confess, our little party has frequently enjoyed more sociable mirth than it has partaken of during the whole of the day. Sniggs eyed the arrangements with evident satisfaction, and Mrs. Brandy ball turned her head, almost instinctively, to the quarter in which the rattling of glasses announced the approach of some agreeable liquid. Merman and Fanny needed neither eatables nor drinkables; they were living upon themselves, in a distant corner of the room, feeling immeasurably happy, and looking inconceivably ridiculous. When the last rubber was ended, much to my relief, not more on my own account than of poor dear Harriet, Cuthbert desired Jane to ring the bell for Hutton, who was wanted to wheel him into his room, in order that his hands and face might be washed with rose-water-an ablution which he seemed to consider indispensably necessary at that period of the evening. Having broken up from our play, I found Kate and Jane still remaining fixtures for supper. However, as it was the night of Mrs. Brandyball's arrival-and her arrival at all was matter of compliment to their indulgent father-in-law— there was nothing in that, only they had not been in the habit of staying up to supper. Cuthbert, having been washed, and refreshed, was wheeled back; and we closed round the table, I, with our new guest on my right hand, and my mother-in-law on my left. Sniggs sat on Harriet's right, Cuthbert on her left, with Kitty, of course, on his right. I had often heard Sniggs talk of the unwholesomeness of suppers; and as often seen him eat voraciously of them, as, indeed, many men who have at other times small appetites, will. Dr. Franklin was one of Sniggs's favourite authors in the way of reference: and as I thought that nothing could be better than bringing the printer to bear upon the 'pothecary, I went to my li brary for five minutes before Cuthbert's return, and "read up," for an attack upon our Galen, if he. should begin his customary depredations upon our eatables. There he was, sure enough, "pegging away," as we used to say in my horrid schooldays, at cold fowl, salmagundi, roasted oysters, and finishing with a piquante bit of devilled turkey. 66 Well, doctor," said I (for a brevet degree in a countryplace like Blissfold is all fair,) "I see you do not exactly practise as you preach." "None of us do," said Sniggs. "When I was in town last, I dined with three physicians of the starving school, and two surgeons sworn to the Abernethian doctrine. Í never saw five men eat or drink so much in the whole course of my life; and, Mr. Gurney," added my Lampedo, go where you will, watch the faculty, and you will find them the greatest gormandizers in the empire." 66 "Yes," said I, "at dinner, perhaps, but not at supper; recollect what your idol Franklin says:" and then I came out with my quotation. "In general, mankind, since the improvement of cookery, eat about twice as much as nature requires. Suppers are not bad, if we have not dined; but restless nights naturally follow hearty suppers after full dinners. Indeed, as there is a difference in constitutions, some rest well after these meals; it costs them only a frightful dream and an apoplexy, after which they sleep till doomsday. Nothing is more common in the newspapers than instances of people who, after eating a hearty supper, are found dead a-bed in the morning."" Correctly quoted by you, sir," said Sniggs; "and aptly observed by the doctor; but suppose, now, I was to tell you that I have had no dinner-fact.-Three hours at Mrs. Humbleman's-case of asthma-bad breathing-great distress-husband wouldn't let me leave her. He himself dyspeptic, with a slight disposition to erysipelas. Mrs. Sniggs did not wait for me-I away to Stephenson the watchmaker's little girl-second-nice child-scarlatinafancied measles-I with her-cup of black tea, weak, and with dry toast, all I had-here to look at Master Falwasser's dear little nose. What could I do? so I only make up the former deficiency of diet." "It must," said Mrs. Brandyball, "be exceedingly excitatory to witness the various afflictions of the different domestic circles into which you are professionally invoked. Experience is the mother of science; and prevention is better than cure. However, the longest day must have an end; and you must experience a most gratifying sensation when you return to repose, to think that, perhaps, under Providence, you have been the means of restoring a dear child to a fond parent-for even the crow thinks its own bird the fairest; and greatness of mind is ever compassionate." Sniggs, who was not particularly sentimental, and thought more of his pills and his bills than of any other thing in the world, looked at our new friend with an expression of countenance which I thought rather equivocal, the character of which was changed into the broad comic when he perceived her sip somewhat largely from a tumbler, into which she had previously poured some particularly strong brandy, which, it must be admitted, took her by surprise. Harriet looked at me, and I looked at her; and we both laughed. I am sure I have no notion why. However, as we had laughed, I thought it was quite absolutely neces sary to atone for the indiscretion by an extra show of attention; and therefore begged to recommend to her particular notice a cup which the servant had just brought in and put down; and in which there was something which I thought she would prefer, since it was evident she was a judge. The mixture which I advocated, was a peculiar sort of punch, really not strong, but rich and agreeable; and which even Cuthbert, if any body would take the trouble to pour it out for him, would not object to imbibe. "Thank you, Mr. Gurney," said the lady, "it is never too late to learn; and although I seldom indulge in such combinations, your kindness is such that I find it quite impossible to resist your delicate attentions. I will have one glass." The tumbler was returned, the lady sipped; and smiled, and smiled and sipped again: her eyes approved, even before her tongue had spoken. 66 I fear," said Mrs. Brandyball, "the delightful weather which we have been enjoying during the last few days is drawing to a close. The moon's envelopment in that silvery mist augurs an approaching change, and threatens an accession of cadent humidity." "Isn't that mist," said Kitty, "what the astrologers call a hayloft?" This was fatal. Cuthbert, who was in a nap, with Kate's arm round his neck, heard it not. Merman was leaning his head on his hand, with his nose within three inches of Fanny's mouth, and heeded it not; but the eyes of Mrs. Wells, |