Pennefather's perfect Paradise, at the end of which was a large looking-glass, in the which the Lieutenant kept continually gazing at himself, improving all his good points; twisting his hair into curl, settling his neckcloth, arranging his waistcoat, and all the rest of it, until his dear relation made her appearance, looking, it must be confessed, exceedingly handsome, and evidently not dressed as a foil for her jewel of a niece.

"I thought,' said she, we should be better without strangers to-day; so we shall be quite alone.'

"So much the more agreeable,' said the Lieutenant.

"Dinner is on the table,' said the butler. "Good news,' said the Lieutenant.

"Does Miss Maloney know we are waiting?' said Miss Pennefather.

"I'll enquire, Madam,' said the man, and retired.

"Come, Philip,' said the Aunt, we are at home, and I hope you feel we are; so come. Millicent will join us in the dining-room.'

"And, with a coquetish air of gallantry, she extended her arm to her nephew, in order that he might offer his, en cavalier; and away they went across the hall; and the dinner smelt savourily.

"Just as the happy pair were about to seat themselves, the butler returned with news that Miss Maloney was not in her room.

"Oh, then,' said Miss Pennefather,

she

has probably gone into the library. Tell Gib son to go and find her.'

"Gibson isn't in, Ma'am,' said the butler.

66 6

Why, who dressed her, I wonder?' said the Aunt. She could not have dressed without her maid.'

"Miss Gibson hasn't been in since the morning,' said a tall, white-faced footman.

"What's the meaning of this?' said Miss Pennefather.

Nobody knew; everybody looked. Some looked wise, some looked foolish.

"I'll go to her room myself,' said Miss Pennefather. Excuse me, Philip, for a few

minutes. This is mighty strange! I can't comprehend it.'

"The Lieutenant was in a very awkward position, standing in the middle of the dining-room, exposed to the gaze of the servants, who had heard a week before, from Miss Gibson, the cause of his intended visit.

"Thomas, put the covers on again,' said the butler; and the dinner vanished from the longing eyes of the hungry soldier.

"A loud scream just at this instant rang through the house. The maid-servants scrambled up the stairs; and when they reached Miss Millicent Maloney's bed-room, they found their amiable mistress, Miss Laura Pennefather, in a violent fit at the foot of the bed."

Wells had just reached this point of his narrative when we arrived at the gate of Ashmead: after we had entered the house he thus continued his account of the proceedings at Aunt Pennefather's.

"No sooner had the amiable mistress of the house recovered from her fainting, which held

for some time, and was eventually overcome by the application of hartshorn and Eau de Cologne, the burning of feathers, the sprinkling of water, and all the established remedies recommended by the Humane Society for the restoration of hysterical ladies, than she screamed out the name of Millicent Maloney, in a tone emulating that of a peacock in anticipation of rain; but, although she had regained the use of her voice, her intellectual faculties continued in a lamentable state of obfuscation-her eyes rolled in every direction-her fists remained clenched-and the first coherent phrase which the anxious attendants could understand was this, Who the devil is it with?'

"Then it was the maid-servants looked at each other-then it was they began to feel a confidence that their suspicions were well founded, and that something very extraordinary had happened to Miss Millicent Maloney.

"Where is she?' said the recovering Pen

nefather— where is she?—I ask you all, where

is she?'

“She?' said one.

"Where?' said another.

"Where is who?' cried a third.

"Millicent-my child Millicent!' said Miss

Pennefather.

“Child!' said Mary.

"Child!' exclaimed Jenny.

"Child!' reiterated Susan.

"Yes,' faltered out Miss Pennefather- my child—my niece—my young friend!'

"The last time I saw her, Ma'am,' said Susan, was a-going down the garden, just by the ewe-trees, towards the summer-house.'

"When was that?" said Miss Pennefather. "About ten o'clock this morning,' said Susan.

"Psha! Ridiculous!' said her mistress. 'Didn't she lunch with me at half-past one?' "I only said

"Stuff! Nonsense!' exclaimed the lady.