ged for the
presence of a third party! Even the facetious young gentleman would have
been a relief.

Miss Crumpton began the duet. She hoped Mrs. Brook Dingwall and the
handsome little boy were in good health.

They were. Mrs. Brook Dingwall and little Frederick were at Brighton.

'Much obliged to you, Miss Crumpton,' said Cornelius, in his most
dignified manner, 'for your attention in calling this morning. I should
have driven down to Hammersmith, to see Lavinia, but your account was so
very satisfactory, and my duties in the House occupy me so much, that I
determined to postpone it for a week. How has she gone on?'

'Very well indeed, sir,' returned Maria, dreading to inform the father
that she had gone off.

'Ah, I thought the plan on which I proceeded would be a match for her.'

Here was a favourable opportunity to say that somebody else had been a
match for her. But the unfortunate governess was unequal to the task.

'You have persevered strictly in the line of conduct I prescribed, Miss
Crumpton?'

'Strictly, sir.'

'You tell me in your note that her spirits gradually improved.'

'Very much indeed, sir.'

'To be sure. I was convinced they would.'

'But I fear, sir,' said Miss Crumpton, with visible emotion, 'I fear the
plan has not succeeded, quite so well as we could have wished.'

No!' exclaimed the prophet. 'Bless me! Miss Crumpton, you look alarmed.
What has happened?'

'Miss Brook Dingwall, sir--'

'Yes, ma'am?'

'Has gone, sir'--said Maria, exhibiting a strong inclination to faint.

'Gone!'

'Eloped, sir.'

'Eloped!--Who with--when--where--how?' almost shrieked the agitated
diplomatist.

The natural yellow of the unfortunate Maria's face changed to all the
hues of the rainbow, as she laid a small packet on the member's table.

He hurriedly opened it. A letter from his daughter, and another from
Theodosius. He glanced over their contents--'Ere this reaches you, far
distant--appeal to feelings--love to distraction--bees'-wax--slavery,'
&c., &c. He dashed his hand to his forehead, and paced the room with
fearfully long strides, to the great alarm of the precise Maria.

'Now mind; from this time forward,' said Mr. Brook Dingwall, suddenly
stopping at the table, and beating time upon it with his hand; 'from this
time forward, I never will, under any circumstances whatever, permit a
man who writes pamphlets to enter any other room of this house but the
kitchen.--I'll allow