eading upon her sister's foot as hard
as possible, and the little wicked thing would take no notice; and I, who
had never heard of the cousinship, feeling as confounded as could be. But
I did not know the Countess of Drum near so well as that sly minx her
grand-daughter did; for the old lady, who had just before called poor Gus
Hoskins her cousin, had, it appeared, the mania of fancying all the world
related to her, and said--

"Yes, we're cousins, and not very far removed. Mick Hoggarty's
grandmother was Millicent Brady, and she and my Aunt Towzer were related,
as all the world knows; for Decimus Brady, of Ballybrady, married an own
cousin of Aunt Towzer's mother, Bell Swift--that was no relation of the
Dean's, my love, who came but of a so-so family--and isn't _that_ clear?"

"Oh, perfectly, Grandmamma," said Lady Jane, laughing, while the right
honourable gent still rode by us, looking sour and surly.

"And sure you knew the Hoggarties, Edmund?--the thirteen red-haired
girls--the nine graces, and four over, as poor Clanboy used to call them.
Poor Clan!--a cousin of yours and mine, Mr. Titmarsh, and sadly in love
with me he was too. Not remember them _all_ now, Edmund?--not
remember?--not remember Biddy and Minny, and Thedy and Widdy, and Mysie
and Grizzy, and Polly and Dolly and the rest?"

"D--- the Miss Hoggarties, ma'am," said the right honourable gent; and he
said it with such energy, that his grey horse gave a sudden lash out that
well nigh sent him over his head. Lady Jane screamed; Lady Fanny
laughed; old Lady Drum looked as if she did not care twopence, and said
"Serve you right for swearing, you ojous man you!"

"Hadn't you better come into the carriage, Edmund--Mr. Preston?" cried
out the lady, anxiously.

"Oh, I'm sure I'll slip out, ma'am," says I.

"Pooh--pooh! don't stir," said Lady Drum: "it's my carriage; and if Mr.
Preston chooses to swear at a lady of my years in that ojous vulgar
way--in that ojous vulgar way I repeat--I don't see why my friends should
be inconvenienced for him. Let him sit on the dicky if he likes, or come
in and ride bodkin." It was quite clear that my Lady Drum hated her
grandson-in-law heartily; and I've remarked somehow in families that this
kind of hatred is by no means uncommon.

Mr. Preston, one of His Majesty's Secretaries of State, was, to tell the
truth, in a great fright upon his horse, and was glad to get away from
the kicking plunging brute. His pale fa