confusion.

'Not the least consequence,' replied Mrs. Parsons, in a tone which
implied that it was of the greatest consequence possible,--directing
aside the researches of the boy, who was groping under the table for the
bits of broken glass.

'I presume,' said Miss Lillerton, 'that Mr. Tottle is aware of the
interest which bachelors usually pay in such cases; a dozen glasses for
one is the lowest penalty.'

Mr. Gabriel Parsons gave his friend an admonitory tread on the toe. Here
was a clear hint that the sooner he ceased to be a bachelor and
emancipated himself from such penalties, the better. Mr. Watkins Tottle
viewed the observation in the same light, and challenged Mrs. Parsons to
take wine, with a degree of presence of mind, which, under all the
circumstances, was really extraordinary.

'Miss Lillerton,' said Gabriel, 'may I have the pleasure?'

'I shall be most happy.'

'Tottle, will you assist Miss Lillerton, and pass the decanter. Thank
you.' (The usual pantomimic ceremony of nodding and sipping gone
through)--

'Tottle, were you ever in Suffolk?' inquired the master of the house, who
was burning to tell one of his seven stock stories.

'No,' responded Watkins, adding, by way of a saving clause, 'but I've
been in Devonshire.'

'Ah!' replied Gabriel, 'it was in Suffolk that a rather singular
circumstance happened to me many years ago. Did you ever happen to hear
me mention it?'

Mr. Watkins Tottle _had_ happened to hear his friend mention it some four
hundred times. Of course he expressed great curiosity, and evinced the
utmost impatience to hear the story again. Mr. Gabriel Parsons forthwith
attempted to proceed, in spite of the interruptions to which, as our
readers must frequently have observed, the master of the house is often
exposed in such cases. We will attempt to give them an idea of our
meaning.

'When I was in Suffolk--' said Mr. Gabriel Parsons.

'Take off the fowls first, Martha,' said Mrs. Parsons. 'I beg your
pardon, my dear.'

'When I was in Suffolk,' resumed Mr. Parsons, with an impatient glance at
his wife, who pretended not to observe it, 'which is now years ago,
business led me to the town of Bury St. Edmund's. I had to stop at the
principal places in my way, and therefore, for the sake of convenience, I
travelled in a gig. I left Sudbury one dark night--it was winter
time--about nine o'clock; the rain poured in torrents, the wind howled
among the trees that skirte