whom he thought had entrapped Geoffrey into marrying her.

▲ nearer view of Mrs. Singleton had not removed his scruples.

CHAPTER IX.

MARRIED LIFE AT SMOKETOWN.

"Wooing, wedding, and repenting is as a Scotch jig, a measure and a cinque pace; the first suit is hot and hasty, like a Scotch jig, and full as fantastical; the wedding mannerly, modest, as a measure full of state and ancientry; and then comes repentance, and with his bad legs falls into the cinque pace, faster and faster, till he sinks into his grave."

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

"ANYBODY up?" cried a voice outside Geoffrey Singleton's house in Seton Row, one dark November morning.

"Up! of course we're all up," replied

Ernestine, coming to the door in person. She was arrayed in that same neat "Woolmerhausen" habit that we saw at St. Tadds. "Isn't the meet at the Claypits to-day, close by? Just the thing for us one-horse people. But come in, Mr. Powell, and have some breakfast. Do."

So Powell, who was bound to the Claypits also, hooked the bridle of his covert hack on to the railings in front of the house, and followed Mrs. Geoffrey into the dining-room.

"When I say we're all up, I mean almost," said the lady. "That lazy beggar Geoff has not made his appearance yet, because he takes extra time these mornings over his boots and breeches. Then McLavery put him into what the man calls butcher's boots, whereas Geoffrey wanted the brown tops, and there was a row, and everything had to be changed." "I only looked in on the way to tell you the news," said Powell.

"News? That's the pleasantest word I've

heard for some time. I think this is the slowest place I ever was in."

"Awful! isn't it? But there are better days in store for us. Lady Jane Prendergast is coming down to present our colours, and we are going to give her a big 'colour ball.'"

"That's famous news, Mr. Powell; I'm always ready for a dance. Who'll be at the ball ?"

"All the world and his wife."

"You may leave out 'the wife.' I don't take much interest in my fellow matrons. 'All the world' will satisfy me."

"You'll have all the world at your feet, Mrs. Singleton."

"Shall I?" she answered, with a careless laugh. "I think all the world' is fool enough for anything."

"That particular act of homage to which I refer being the first proof of their foolishness, eh?"

"Perhaps; any way they won't turn my head

much.

I've been accustomed to the world from my youth up, Mr. Powell, and I'm quite able to take care of myself. But is that all your news?"

"No, we are going to lose old Mulholland. They've given him an unattached majority. It's about time, for he was nearly expended yesterday."

"What! dear old Blowhard nearly dead?" "Yes, he was missing for several hours yesterday afternoon, and we thought he had

"Yes, out of the world."

"What a horrid sell, Mr. Powell; but I'll be even with you one of these days. Well ?"

"Well you must know that he was field officer of the day yesterday, and about four P.M. he started to go his rounds on his new charger. The poor brute in anticipation of this has been having no oats this past week,

VOL. II.

L