immensely on your
assistance."

"Well, my dear, it can't be helped," sighed Aunt Fanny.

"Could n't we allude to it to-day, when Cashel calls, and say something
about your going away to the country and our regrets at parting, and so
on? Olivia, you might do that very easily."

"It wouldn't do for Olivia," said Aunt Fanny, very sententiously.

"Quite right, aunt," chimed in Miss Kennyfeck; "that would be like old
Admiral Martin, who shot away all his ammunition firing salutes."

"Mr. Kennyfeck!" said his spouse, with a voice of command; "I vow he
is deafer every day--Mr. Kennyfeck, you must call on Mr. Cashel this
morning, and say that we really cannot think of inflicting him with an
entire family; that you and I alone--or you and Olivia--"

"No--no, Mr. Kennyfeck and Caroline," interposed Aunt Fanny, "say that."

"Thanks for the preference," said Miss Kennyfeck, with a short nod, "I
am to play lightning-conductor; isn't it so?"

"Or shall I propose going alone?" interposed Mr. Kennyfeck, in all the
solemnity of self-importance.

"Is n't he too bad?" exclaimed his wife, turning to the others; "did
you ever conceive there could be anything as dull as that man? We cannot
trust you with any part of the transaction."

"Here comes Mr. Cashel himself," said Miss Kennyfeck; as a phaeton drove
rapidly to the door, and Cashel, accompanied by a friend, descended.

"Not a word of what we were speaking, Mr. Kennyfeck!" said his wife,
sternly, for she reposed slight reliance on his tact.

"Who is with him?" whispered Olivia to her sister; but not heeding the
question, Miss Kennyfeck said,--

"Take _my_ advice, Livy, and get rid of your duenna. You 'll play your
own game better."

Before there was time for rejoinder, Lord Charles Frobisher and Cashel
entered the drawing-room.

"You received my note, I hope, Mrs. Kennyfeck," said Roland, as he
accepted her cordially offered hand. "I only this morning got Linton's
last bulletin, and immediately wrote off to tell you."

"That _is_ significant," whispered Miss Kennyfeck to Olivia. "To give
_us_ the earliest intelligence."

"I trust the announcement is not too abrupt."

"Of course not,--our only scruple is, the largeness of our party. We are
really shocked at the notion of inflicting an entire family upon you."

"Beware the Bear," whispered Lord C., in a very adroit
undertone,--"don't invite the aunt."

"My poor house will only be the more honored," said Cashel, bo