s to add, that this complication of disorders completely
deprived poor Mrs. Tibbs of all her inmates, except the one whom she
could have best spared--her husband. That wretched little man returned
home, on the day of the wedding, in a state of partial intoxication; and,
under the influence of wine, excitement, and despair, actually dared to
brave the anger of his wife. Since that ill-fated hour he has constantly
taken his meals in the kitchen, to which apartment, it is understood, his
witticisms will be in future confined: a turn-up bedstead having been
conveyed there by Mrs. Tibbs's order for his exclusive accommodation. It
is possible that he will be enabled to finish, in that seclusion, his
story of the volunteers.

The advertisement has again appeared in the morning papers. Results must
be reserved for another chapter.

CHAPTER THE SECOND.

'Well!' said little Mrs. Tibbs to herself, as she sat in the front
parlour of the Coram-street mansion one morning, mending a piece of
stair-carpet off the first Landings;--'Things have not turned out so
badly, either, and if I only get a favourable answer to the
advertisement, we shall be full again.'

Mrs. Tibbs resumed her occupation of making worsted lattice-work in the
carpet, anxiously listening to the twopenny postman, who was hammering
his way down the street, at the rate of a penny a knock. The house was
as quiet as possible. There was only one low sound to be heard--it was
the unhappy Tibbs cleaning the gentlemen's boots in the back kitchen, and
accompanying himself with a buzzing noise, in wretched mockery of humming
a tune.

The postman drew near the house. He paused--so did Mrs. Tibbs. A
knock--a bustle--a letter--post-paid.

'T. I. presents compt. to I. T. and T. I. begs To say that i see the
advertisement And she will Do Herself the pleasure of calling On you
at 12 o'clock to-morrow morning.

'T. I. as To apologise to I. T. for the shortness Of the notice But i
hope it will not unconvenience you.

'I remain yours Truly
'Wednesday evening.'

Little Mrs. Tibbs perused the document, over and over again; and the more
she read it, the more was she confused by the mixture of the first and
third person; the substitution of the 'i' for the 'T. I.;' and the
transition from the 'I. T.' to the 'You.' The writing looked like a