dear little things I remember in Calcutta? Bless me, how you are grown!"

66

They do grow," said Nubley; and then picking the stubble from his chin, muttered, "umph! what a foolish remark!-eh! I'm very sorry about the boy. What did he die of?"

66

Small-pox,” said I.

"Not in the house ?" said Nubley.

"No," said Kate, "I wish he was, poor dear -for then we might take a last look at him." "Poor dear!" said Nubley, "where have you put him to?"

“Oh,” said I, “I will explain all the circumstances by-and-by. Perhaps, Mrs. Nubley, you would like to see Harriet. Kate, dear, ring, and send for Foxcroft, and go with Mrs. Nubley to your aunt's room-go, Jane, love."

And by all these exertions I put the train in motion, and found myself left alone with my present absent friend, whose peculiarities I have already so particularly noted down in the first portion of my papers, as to render any further remark wholly unnecessary.

"What, then," said Nubley, when the ladies had retired, " brother Cuthbert isn't here?"

"No," said I, "he is gone to live for the present at Bath."

"Do these young Falwassers stay here?"

"No," said I, "they are here merely for the funeral of the brother."

"What, then," said Nubley, "Cuthbert has given up the house to you altogether?"

"I hope," said I, "he will soon return," rather embarrassed by the question.

Nubley, as was his custom, fixed his eyes full upon my face, and, as usual, stubbling his chin, muttered, "Not he never, as long as you live. And these girls," continued he, avowedly addressing me," are two of the little children I remember being sent home by poor Falwasser. Good man, Falwasser-not wise-henpeckedtalked to death by his wife-though he was a lawyer-eh! And when do they bury the boy?" "The day is not fixed," said I, "nor will be

till to-morrow.

You will attend the funeral?"

"Why, that depends," said Nubley-" not being asked-can't say.”

"Oh," said I, "I am too proud to ask you."

"You!" said Nubley; "ah! that's all very well-but-however, we'll see-Cuthbert hasn't, you know-and so-but never mind-what I have come here about-never thought of a funeral!-Captain Thompson, or whatever his name is, who has taken Chittagong Lodgewith his nieces-and they all have cousinsI never heard of such a number of cousins; I am told they are playing old Nick with the place-and the dilapidations are great, and rent not certain, eh!-let furnished-can't distrain my own chairs and tables;-and so-not knowing of all this-we came down to beg a night or two's houseroom never thought of the death - wouldnt have come if I had heard of it."

That there was room for their accommodation in the house at Ashmead could not be denied ; but it did really seem the most vexatious addi

tion to all my other calamities, that this most eccentric couple of people, in their separate ways,

should be quartered upon me just at a moment when I was almost overwhelmed with difficulties of even greater importance.

I smiled a new welcome, which was scarcely ended when Mrs. Nubley and the young ladies returned to us, having been, as it was evident to me, ejected with very little ceremony, from what, by courtesy, was still called Harriet's "sick-room."

"Lauk! Mr. Gurney," screamed Mrs. Nubley, "what a beautiful babby !—quite a 'Ercles!-I never did see. He he he!— you are such a man! and dear Mrs. G., how well she is looking! I have asked all about the family 'specially after Fanny, and dear little Lizzy-Bessy, you call her."

"I do," said Kate; "I'm very fond of Bessy, and so is she of me."

"Do you recollect much of your mother, my little dear?" said Nubley.

"Sir!" said Kate, colouring crimson all over

her neck and shoulders at being addressed in the paternal manner which Mr. Nubley chose to adopt.

"You don't recollect much of your poor mother?"

"No! I should think not!" said Kate, tossing her head aside. "It is more than ten years since I was in India."

"Dear me," said Nubley, "is that possible? -eh! Mrs. N., ten years? Well, to be sure !eh! And you have been at school all this time, my little love?”

"I've left school now," said Kate, looking stilettos at her examiner.

"Only for a time, Kate," said I.

"For ever, I hope," said Kate.

"The

minute Mrs. Brandyball retires, I am never to be pestered with school any more. Why should I?"

"And what is your name, my pretty child?" continued Nubley, addressing the other Fal

wasser.

"Jane, Sir," said she.