"I think matters are especially and particularly serene. I should, however, recommend your retaining all that correspondence, as it may some day be necessary for you to prove that you did obtain the apology.” "Perhaps so," replied Seymour. "At all events he has done the honourable thing, so I'll imitate him in regretting I attacked his pedigree." "His pedigree indeed," returned Fordbrad, scornfully, "I suspect he knows as much about it as a town cat does of his grandfather.” Seymour burst out laughing at this speech. "Well you do say quaint things," observed he, at length. "I won't, however, repeat it, and you can re-produce it when you have a larger audience." "All right old fellow," said his companion. "I'll come out for a walk as soon as I have written the final diplomatic note; how absurd the entire business appears when calmly reviewed!" said Seymour. Well, at all events, it has helped to pass away the time, and you have decidedly taken a rise out of Major and Mrs. Wilson; not a bad thing in its way, it will teach them fellows are not so easily captured as they would wish." "Listen," and Seymour read : "SIR, 66 "I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of to-day, expressing 'your regret at what took place in the ball"room on Tuesday evening, and I beg to entirely withdraw those expressions which I was unfortunately betrayed into using on the subject of your parentage, and regret that in "the warmth of the moment they should have escaped from my lips. I should be glad to "learn that your irritation against me has "ceased. 66 66 "I remain, "Your obedient servant, "That will do," said his friend, "I am of opinion the drama had better be wound up by your presenting Mrs. Wilson with the MSS. Henry Sis going to send to the Saperfine Review. I mean the articles on 'Heir Hunting,' and 'Frisky Matrons ;' you've read them I suppose ?” "Rather; I thought I should have tumbled into a fit, I laughed so much; the ladies will be in a precious rage about them, especially the one entitled 'Frisky Matrons.' "The best part of that," observed Fordbrad, "if, indeed, one part can be selected as better than another, was the assertion that it is now the married women who dance while the young ladies often sit unasked. The former are to be seen in any ball-room capering about like so many frolicsome lambkins, and it suggests that if it is the exercise merely which is the attraction, a valve for letting off their exuberant activity should be provided in the shape of gymnasia, where married women, who find a life of domestic repose rather slow, may privately resort for the purpose of indulging in feats of agility. The place should be provided with poles to climb, and circular swings to fly round upon, they would then by night have so far reduced their muscular force as to adopt in the ball room a more calm and matronly deport ment." "I think I'll let the whole lot of them alone," said Seymour; "as they've left off scratching me, I'll not scratch them." R CHAPTER XXI. DEATH OF PUSSY. "Mischief that may be helped is hard to know, When harm hath many wings, care comes too late." BROOKE. THEY then took a walk round to Apostles' Battery, visiting various ponds, and were gratified to notice that the wild fowl had begun to arrive there. "There's another tiny affair on the tapis," observed Seymour, during their excursion. "That's pleasant this hot weather," replied Fordbrad, "whose cat's dead now ?" "Talking of cats reminds me there's actually a rumpus about a cat. We were having a game of whist a few nights ago, when we were much disturbed by numerous cats caterwauling about the garden; Johnson, who was looking on, went for his gun, and the night being |