the bitter
bread of service. It is very amusing. Was Mrs. Phillips much taken up
with them on account of their misfortunes?"

"I do not know," said Mr. Dempster, drily. "If you have served Mrs.
Phillips you will know that she is not the same at all times."

"Then there was a large party of them on board; a servant, no doubt,
and these two Melville girls, and the children?" said Mrs. Peck.

"There was also a sister of Mr. Phillips's--rather a fine woman,
too--come out on a visit."

"And a fine lady, too, I dare say," said Mrs. Peck. "Mr. Phillips holds
his head pretty high. I warrant his sister and Mrs. Phillips would have
some sparring. And the children are good-looking, I suppose? I saw none
of them since the first was a baby. What are they like?"

"They are very pretty children, and getting on well with their studies.
The eldest Miss Melville is the most thoroughly cultivated woman I ever
saw."

"Oh, leave Cross Hall alone for that," said Mrs. Peck. "He was always
crazy about education, and that sort of thing."

"Cross Hall!" said Mr. Dempster. "I suppose you will say next that you
know Francis Hogarth, of Cross Hall, member of Parliament for the
Swinton burghs?"

"Member of Parliament, too!" said Mrs. Peck, with the same subdued
fierceness as when she first took Mr. Dempster up about the Melvilles.
"Member of Parliament! Ungrateful dog!" she said, under her breath; but
her expression of vindictiveness was not altogether lost on Mr.
Dempster. "Oh yes! I know him; or at least I know all about him. Nobody
did know anything of him till he came into the property, you know; but
I really know more about him than most folks. There are some people
that would give their ears to know what I do; but there is a saying in
the north, where I was born, 'Least said is soonest mended;' at any
rate, least said to them as it don't concern."

"If I had you at a seance", said Mr. Dempster, "I could get all your
secrets out of you, whether you liked it or not. Yes, Mrs. Frankland, I
really could."

"I don't think it can be right," said the timid hostess, who, though
she was very fond of hearing the news, preferred to get them from
living persons and not disembodied spirits. "Mrs. Peck, you are taking
nothing."

"I got bad news just before tea, and that took away my appetite; but I
have got over that now, so I'll trouble you for a mutton chop, Mr.
Dempster, and Peck, just pass me the pickles, and be good enough to
give me a