ver her eyes.

"Pooh!" said Mrs. Dagon, "I knew 'twould come to this. I've seen her
hugging him the whole winter, and so has every body else who has eyes."

And she shook her plumage as she settled into a seat.

"Mrs. Boniface Newt is unfortunately blind; that is to say, she sees
every body's affairs but her own," said Mr. Newt, tauntingly.

Mrs. Dagon, without heeding him, talked on.

"But why did they run away to be married? What does it mean? Fanny's not
romantic, and Dinks is a fool. He's rich, and a proper match enough, for
a woman can't expect to have every thing. I can't see why he didn't
propose regularly, and behave like other people. Do you suppose he was
actually engaged to his cousin Hope Wayne, and that our darling Fanny has
outwitted the Boston beauty, and the Boston beau too, for that matter? It
looks like it, really. I think that must be it. It's a pity a Newt should
marry a fool--"

"It is not the first time," interrupted her nephew, making a low bow to
his wife.

Mrs. Dagon looked a little surprised. She had seen little jars and rubs
before in the family, but this morning she seemed to have happened in
upon an earthquake. She continued:

"But we must make the best of it. Are they in the house?"

"No, Aunt Dagon," said Mr. Newt. "I knew nothing of it until, half an
hour ago, I read it in the paper with all the rest of the world. It seems
it was a family secret." And he bowed again to his wife,

"Don't, don't," sobbed she. "You know I didn't know any thing about it.
Oh! Aunt Dagon, I never knew him so unjust and wicked as he is to-day. He
treats me cruelly." And the poor woman covered her red eyes again with
her handkerchief, and rocked herself feebly. Mr. Newt went out, and
slammed the door behind him.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

A FIELD-DAY.

"Now, Nancy, tell me about this thing," said Mrs. Dagon, when the husband
was gone.

But Nancy had nothing to tell.

"I don't like his running away with her--that looks bad," continued Mrs.
Dagon. She pondered a few moments, and then said:

"I can tell you one thing, Nancy, which it wasn't worth while to mention
to Boniface, who seems to be nervous this morning--but I am sure Fanny
proposed the running off. Alfred Dinks is too great a fool. He never
would have thought of it, and he would never have dared to do it if he
had."

"Oh dear me!" responded Mrs. Newt.

"Pooh! it isn't such a dreadful thing, if he is only rich enough," said
Aunt Dagon,