hush! pray--Mrs. Tibbs--consider--we shall be observed--pray,
don't!' said John Evenson, fearing his whole plan would be interrupted.
'We will set the matter at rest with the utmost care, and I shall be most
happy to assist you in doing so.' Mrs. Tibbs murmured her thanks.

'When you think every one has retired to rest to-night,' said Evenson
very pompously, 'if you'll meet me without a light, just outside my
bedroom door, by the staircase window, I think we can ascertain who the
parties really are, and you will afterwards be enabled to proceed as you
think proper.'

Mrs. Tibbs was easily persuaded; her curiosity was excited, her jealousy
was roused, and the arrangement was forthwith made. She resumed her
work, and John Evenson walked up and down the room with his hands in his
pockets, looking as if nothing had happened. The game of cribbage was
over, and conversation began again.

'Well, Mr. O'Bleary,' said the humming-top, turning round on his pivot,
and facing the company, 'what did you think of Vauxhall the other night?'

'Oh, it's very fair,' replied Orson, who had been enthusiastically
delighted with the whole exhibition.

'Never saw anything like that Captain Ross's set-out--eh?'

'No,' returned the patriot, with his usual reservation--'except in
Dublin.'

'I saw the Count de Canky and Captain Fitzthompson in the Gardens,' said
Wisbottle; 'they appeared much delighted.'

'Then it _must_ be beautiful,' snarled Evenson.

'I think the white bears is partickerlerly well done,' suggested Mrs.
Bloss. 'In their shaggy white coats, they look just like Polar
bears--don't you think they do, Mr. Evenson?'

'I think they look a great deal more like omnibus cads on all fours,'
replied the discontented one.

'Upon the whole, I should have liked our evening very well,' gasped
Gobler; 'only I caught a desperate cold which increased my pain
dreadfully! I was obliged to have several shower-baths, before I could
leave my room.'

'Capital things those shower-baths!' ejaculated Wisbottle.

'Excellent!' said Tomkins.

'Delightful!' chimed in O'Bleary. (He had once seen one, outside a
tinman's.)

'Disgusting machines!' rejoined Evenson, who extended his dislike to
almost every created object, masculine, feminine, or neuter.

'Disgusting, Mr. Evenson!' said Gobler, in a tone of strong
indignation.--'Disgusting! Look at their utility--consider how many
lives they have saved by promoting perspiration.'

'Promo