her situation, his first act
would have been to kick the man down-stairs by deputy; or, in other
words, to ring the bell, and desire the landlord to take his boots off.
He contented himself, however, with doubling the fee and explaining that
the letter merely related to a breach of the peace. The top-boots
retired, solemnly pledged to secrecy; and Mr. Alexander Trott sat down to
a fried sole, maintenon cutlet, Madeira, and sundries, with greater
composure than he had experienced since the receipt of Horace Hunter's
letter of defiance.

The lady who alighted from the London coach had no sooner been installed
in number twenty-five, and made some alteration in her travelling-dress,
than she indited a note to Joseph Overton, esquire, solicitor, and mayor
of Great Winglebury, requesting his immediate attendance on private
business of paramount importance--a summons which that worthy functionary
lost no time in obeying; for after sundry openings of his eyes, divers
ejaculations of 'Bless me!' and other manifestations of surprise, he took
his broad-brimmed hat from its accustomed peg in his little front office,
and walked briskly down the High-street to the Winglebury Arms; through
the hall and up the staircase of which establishment he was ushered by
the landlady, and a crowd of officious waiters, to the door of number
twenty-five.

'Show the gentleman in,' said the stranger lady, in reply to the foremost
waiter's announcement. The gentleman was shown in accordingly.

The lady rose from the sofa; the mayor advanced a step from the door; and
there they both paused, for a minute or two, looking at one another as if
by mutual consent. The mayor saw before him a buxom, richly-dressed
female of about forty; the lady looked upon a sleek man, about ten years
older, in drab shorts and continuations, black coat, neckcloth, and
gloves.

'Miss Julia Manners!' exclaimed the mayor at length, 'you astonish me.'

'That's very unfair of you, Overton,' replied Miss Julia, 'for I have
known you, long enough, not to be surprised at anything you do, and you
might extend equal courtesy to me.'

'But to run away--actually run away--with a young man!' remonstrated the
mayor.

'You wouldn't have me actually run away with an old one, I presume?' was
the cool rejoinder.

'And then to ask me--me--of all people in the world--a man of my age and
appearance--mayor of the town--to promote such a scheme!' pettishly
ejaculated Joseph Overton; th