ruin was true, satisfied him of results for which Cuthbert himself was in no degree prepared, and Nubley's sense of perception, so oddly disguised by the absence of his mind, and, in fact, its wanderings, whenever its energies were not applied to any particular point, led him to conclusions of a more satisfactory nature than I anticipated, even after having read his first much wished-for letter, descriptive of his proceedings as far as they had gone. The dialogue between Nubley and my brother, to the enjoyment of which they had been left by the retirement of Mrs. Brandyball, continued for upwards of an hour, during which period, Nubley, letting out as few of his private thoughts and secret opinions as possible, confined himself to an examination and comparison of the accounts of the "departed" firm of Chipps, Rice, Hiccory, and Co., and, in order to further the views which he thought most advantageous for Cuthbert, to a representation in the strongest terms of the irremediable wreck of his fortunes. Cuthbert bore this exhibition of melancholy facts with patience, and even firmness, until feeling exhausted-and, as Nubley thought, anxious about the fair partner of his future existence, who was destined to soothe and cheer him under the change of circumstances-for to this straw the drowning bankrupt still clung-he begged Nubley to ring the bell, a favour which he asked oftener in the course of the day than any other, and from the soliciting which he might have been entirely relieved by the ordinary addition of a yard or two of line to the bell-rope. Nubley obeyed his orders, or rather fulfilled his request. "Twice-pull twice," said Cuthbert, "if it is not too much trouble." Nubley again did as he was bid, and again Hutton the faithful genius of the "ring," stood before his master. "Is my little basin of soup ready, Hutton?" said Cuthbert. 66 No, Sir, I believe not," said Hutton. "It is near one, eh?" asked my brother. "Past one, a good deal, Sir," said Hutton. "Why," said Cuthbert, "that's very odd-eh dear!-I am such a creature of habit-eh? It is a little mess that Mrs. Brandyball always makes for me herself," murmured he to Nubley "she never fails. Does she know what o'clock it is? She's as punctual-eh, dear!-ask her: give my love, and ask her." : "Mrs. Brandyball is out, Sir," said Hutton: "she went out about an hour ago." "Is Miss Kate with her?" said Cuthbert. "No, Sir," replied the servant: "Miss Falwasser, I believe, is in her room." Bravo, that's it!—thought Nubley, louder than usual. "Ask her to come here-eh dear, eh dear," said Cuthbert. "Why, where can that good woman be gone? I dare say, to try and be of some service. They are all so kind-eh?— and that “I dare say she has," said Nubley-fudge (thought). 66 Eh, what?" said my brother. "I dare say she has," replied Nubley; "but I hope she will be discreet-because, don't you see? The news of a fall like this may do mişchief-hurry in bills-eh ?—I wonder if he owes much here." "Owes!" answered Cuthbert, believing the question actually addressed to him: "I owe a good deal in little matters; but I hope-eh, dear-some arrangement may be made for this dear good woman. The outlay has been, you know, for our joint comfort, and—some allowance-eh dear-it is very shocking I wish I were well enough to be more affected by it; but-she-she will manage all-she manages every thing, she has such a head." "Yes," said Nubley, looking at Cuthbert's frisky wig, "and so have you; but, you'll excuse me, I doubt the success of her plans At this moment Kitty returned to the room, bearing in her hand, on its accustomed little salver, the desiderated (I like the word, it is so long and so new) basin of broth. "Ha!" said Cuthbert, "thanks, dear. What, did Mrs. B. tell you to bring it me before, in her absence, and you forgot it?" "No, Pappy," said Kate; "she told me nothing about it, for I have not seen her since she left you if she had, I should not have forgotten the time. She forgot it herself." Saying which, she drew the little table to the sofa's side, and placed upon it the wonted, and in the present case, much "wanted" potage, till now ever tendered to him by the hand of Brandyball herself. Hereabouts, Nubley, who never doubted as to the ulterior results of the explosion which he foresaw, began to calculate as to the origin and cause of Kate's present affectionate conduct to her father-in-law. His thoughts upon the point lay so deep in his mind, that they did not bubble up into expression he looked at her, and thought she had never seemed so nice or so pretty before, The question with him was whether her kindness more strongly evinced itself in proportion to the defection of her valued preceptress, or that she made an exhibition of that kindness, in order, if (as she was quite quick enough to think possible) Brandyball should abandon Pappy in his poverty, she might secure a home and comfort with those who were more likely to take care of him. Nubley weighed all this; and, as a jury are always directed to lean to mercy, at the conclusion of his consideration, he felt more favourably towards the attendant sylph than usual. Pending the operation of these doubts, Hutton made his appearance with two letters for Cuthbert, folded longwise, and which bore no external evidence of being billetdoux. "What are these ?" said Cuthbert. "Eh ?-dear me two more letters! Kitty, dear, open them for me.' "The persons who brought them wait for answers, Sir," said Hutton. "Let them wait a little," said Cuthbert, "Go, and tell them to stop." Hutton bowed and retired. When he was gone, Kate, according to order, broke the seal of the first, and read Bath, 24, 18-. "Sir,-Having a large bill due to-morrow, we should feel very much obliged by your favouring us with a cheque for the amount of the little account enclosed. "We are, Sir, your obedient servants, "Oh!" said Cuthbert. "BRIGHT and TwIZZLE." "Ah!-I know-a small affair. I desired dear Mrs. Brandyball to order a few things-trin kets-read, is the bill there, Kate ?" "Yes, Pappy," said Kate. "Read it, love," said Cuthbert. She did read it. CUTHBERT GURNEY, Esq. Dr. to BRIGHT and Twizzle. 14th. One pair of drop brilliant ear-rings Bath, 18 168 14 0 73 10 0 One pair bracelets, blue enamel, centre dia- 15th. Gold watch, double case, diamonded in seven Massive gold neckchain for ditto, at 207. per yard-two yards and a half 17th. Pearl necklace ear-rings, and bracelets, superb 50 0 0 63 0 0 575 0 0 260 0 0 0 18 6 £1275 18 6 I-I "Dear me," said Cuthbert, "that is a great deal. recollect buying the gold toothpick-eh ?-and saying, I thought dear Mrs. Brandyball would like a watch and chain, which I gave her; but-eh!-this is very surprising !" "Not to me," said Nubley. "Now, Miss Kitty, let's have the other." "Oh!" said Kate, unfolding a memorandum of most exceeding length, "this is the upholsterer's bill, for the furniture and things." "Ah!" said Nubley, "never mind reading it all through. What is the sum total ?" "What, at the bottom ?" said Kate. Yes," said Nubley. "The sum total," stammered Kitty; "it is one, and a nine, and eight, and four, and then there is a fifteen and a six." "What!" cried Nubley, "can't you count, Miss? Have you been at school I don't know how many years, and can do no more than that? Here, let me see-here-yes-sure enough, Cuthbert, here is a bill for furniture. One thousand nine hundred and eighty-four pounds fifteen shillings and sixpence what say you to that ?" “I dare say,” said Cuthbert, "it is all correct—the furniture was wanted-eh, dear ?—but where is Mrs. Brandyball herself-she will set all this to rights-eh ?-what makes the people send just to-day-eh ?” "I think I could guess," said Nubley-" eh! so would any body in the world except yourself." "As for Mrs. Brandyball," said Kate, nearly trembling with rage against her darling governess," she is gone into town I know, and if she never comes back I don't care." "Oh dear, dear Kate!" said Cuthbert, "don't talk in that way about a person with whom you will soon be so nearly connected." "Shall I ?" said Kate, who knew more of the world by half than her respectable father-in-law at four times her age, "I'm not so sure of that." "Dear, dear," said Cuthbert, "what do you mean ?—why -eh ?what does it all mean?" 66 "Why," said Nubley, it means that you were rich, you are now found out to be poor; fair-weather birds all fly away in the storm." "Yes, Mr. Nubley," said Mrs. Brandyball, entering the room with all the impassioned dignity of a tragedy queen; "but no birds are to be caught with chaff, at least if they have any instinct, or are not very young indeed." Cuthbert's astonishment at the appearance and aspect of his intended, was something perfectly indescribable. "Yes, Sir," continued the lady, addressing her astounded victim," you-you, Sir, have induced me, under false pretences, to give up my school, to throw myself out of a good livelihood, and now you turn out to be a bankrupt. How can you justify yourself?" "My dear Mrs. B.," said Cuthbert, "I was up to this morning as innocent of the fact-eh, dear!-eh, dear!-as yourself, and "Innocent!" said the lady, with a sneer worthy of a comic actress of the first water, "yes, innocent enough, Heaven knows; but you must have known what was going to happen to you." "Not I," said Cuthbert: "I trusted to friends, and have been deceived." "More fool you!" almost screamed the Gorgon. what am I to do? how am I to be satisfied ?" "But "Your kind affection for me" said Cuthbert. "Affection for what?" cried the sweet instructress of young females: "affection for you! What upon earth could make any body care about a shrivelled piece of parchment in calico pantaloons like you, except 66 99 "What," said Cuthbert. "What do I hear ?" "Why, I tell you what you hear," continued the virago; you have induced me to break up my establishment-my seminary-my Montpelier. I have sent away my young ladies I have relied upon you, and see what has happened!" 66 Surely," said Cuthbert, raising himself somewhat ener getically on his elbow, "surely this must be-eh ?-this-is -eb, what?" "What?" cried the lady, "why, I tell you what-it is this you have suffered yourself to be fooled out of your pro |