Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

course you will talk it over with Fanny, and unless Sniggs ferrets out the truth, the whole affair will die away in a week."

“I'll take your advice,” said Wells—“ never show your teeth, when you can't—or at least don't mean to bite. So let it be agreed-mum —I shall talk to Fan-but that is all—she won't break her heart, I know."

"But,” said I, thinking of my own perplexities, "what do you think of Mrs. Sniggs's coming here as deputy Brandyball, superseding all our authority, and proposing to take the girls out shopping?"

[blocks in formation]

"So, from what I can gather, is the fact,” said I,—“ and will you believe it?—you, who so well remember poor Tom, and his manner, and his face, and his nose, and all-they have sent me an inscription and epitaph for his tomb -will you look at it?-see-just read it—I assure you it is a curiosity."

Saying which, I produced the effusion which I had thrust into my pocket.

Wells looked over the inscription—the eulogistic inscription to the memory of the lost, and laughed as loudly as any man professing his principles could be expected to laugh who had just lost a son-in-law.

"What d'ye think of that?" said I.

"Put this by for the present," said Wells; doubling up the paper, "these things are for days to come. What's doing now? that's the point."

66

Why," said I, "I am about the last person to ask: I declare myself wholly in the dark We have got a new character on the stage now that Mrs. Sniggs has made her appearance."

"Where is Sniggs himself?" asked Wells.

"I have not seen him since the day before yesterday," said I; "he avoids me: he has smelt out where the influence in this family lies; and now, upon the authority of a letter from Bath, deputes his lady to supersede my wife in her arrangements with the young ladies about mourning."

"It is odd," said Wells.

"It is disgusting,” said I.

"Well,” said my father-in-law, "if you agree with me, that silent contempt is the line with regard to the lieutenant, we need discuss that matter no further-say nothing to poor dear Harriet in the midst of her other vexations-I will have my talk over with Fan at home, and regulate my conduct according to the symptoms she discovers; but under no circumstances will I do anything further without consulting you."

"You flatter me," said I: "but is the Lieutenant gone, as they say, for good?"

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Why," said Wells, "I am not one of those who go hunting about, and ferretting out news; but I hear that he is gone altogether and intirely out of this,' as my friend Colonel O'Flynn says, and who tells me that he has quitted the place in his military capacitywhether this be so or not, I do not pretend to say—but I do not think it likely he will show himself here again in a civil character.”

"I should think not," said I; " of one thing assure yourself, I am firm in my approval of the

course you have now adopted, so let us go to the breakfast-room and see what is going on there."

And away we went; Wells very much calmed by finding that I entertained a similar opinion to his own; and when we arrived in the hall, we found Jane Falwasser lingering-I dare say she had been listening-about the door of the library, evidently with the view of making some communication to me.

"Well, Jane," said I, "where is Kate? I suppose she will show me her letter, or at least tell me what my brother desires her to do." "Kate is gone, uncle," said Jane.

"Gone where ?" asked I.

"Gone with Mrs. Sniggs," replied Jane; "she told her that she was to go with her to buy anything she wanted at Twig and Dilberry's, and afterwards she is going home with Mrs. Sniggs to see her poor brother Tom in his coffin.”

[ocr errors]

"Indeed," said I; "does Mrs. Gurney know of this ?"

"No, uncle," said Jane; "Pappy, or at least, Mrs. Brandy ball, had written to Mr.

Sniggs to desire his wife to do whatever she chose --he is so delighted with Mr. Sniggs's coming to him, and all that; and so Kate said she did not care who said she was not to go, if Pappy said she was to go,-and so she is gone."

"And why did you not go?" said I.

"Because I thought Aunt Harriet did not wish it," said Jane: "if I could have spoken to you and asked your leave, I would have gone, because I know Kate will be cross with me for not going with her; but I could not, Uncle Gilbert; I could not, even then, have borne to see my poor brother-I would have gone to the house, but not into the room."

“Jane,” said I, "you are a kind-hearted girl, and a good girl; and I thank you for your consideration of us while under our roof; but still more do I praise you for your feeling with regard to your poor brother: and when," continued I, "have they fixed for the funeral?"

"The day after to-morrow," said Jane; “and Kate tells me that there is to be music in the church, and a dirge played; and the organist is

« ZurückWeiter »