by no means increased the comfort of the situation. It led to
a long pause in the conversation. Mrs. Dinks wished Aunt Dagon on the top
of Mont Blanc, and while she was meditating the best thing to say, Mrs.
Dagon, who had rallied, returned to the charge.

"Of course," said she, "that is something that would hardly be said of
the daughter of Boniface Newt."

And Mrs. Dagon resumed the study of Mrs. Dinks.

"Or of the grand-nephew of Christopher Burt," said the latter, putting up
her own glasses and returning the stare.

"Grand-nephew! Is Alfred Dinks not the grandson of Mr. Burt?" asked Mrs.
Newt, earnestly.

"No, he is his grand-nephew. I am the niece of Mr. Burt--daughter of his
brother Jonathan, deceased," replied Mrs. Dinks.

"Oh!" said Mrs. Newt, dolefully.

"Not a very near relation," added Mrs. Dagon. "Grand-nephews don't
count."

That might be true, but it was thin consolation for Mrs. Newt, who began
to take fire.

"But, Mrs. Dinks, how did this affair come about?" asked she.

"Exactly," chimed in Aunt Dagon; "how did it come about?"

"My dear Mrs. Newt," replied Mrs. Dinks, entirely overlooking the
existence of Mrs. Dagon, "you know my son Alfred and your daughter Fanny.
So do I. Do you believe that Alfred ran away with Fanny, or Fanny with
Alfred. Theoretically, of course, the man does it. Do you believe Alfred
did it?"

Mrs. Dinks's tone was resolute. Mrs. Newt was on the verge of hysterics.

"Do you mean to insult my daughter to her mother's face?" exclaimed she.
"O you mean to insinuate that--"

"I mean to insinuate nothing, my dear Mrs. Newt. I say plainly what I
mean to say, so let us keep as cool as we can for the sake of all
parties. They are married--that's settled. How are they going to live?"

Mrs. Newt opened her mouth with amazement.

"I believe the husband usually supports the wife," ejaculated the dragon
behind the glasses.

"I understand you to say, then, my dear Mrs. Newt," continued Mrs. Dinks,
with a superb disregard of the older lady, who had made the remark, "that
the husband usually supports the family. Now in this matter, you know, we
are going to be perfectly cool and sensible. You know as well as I that
Alfred has no profession, but that be will by-and-by inherit a fortune
from his grand-uncle--"

At this point Mrs. Dagon coughed in an incredulous and contemptuous
manner. Mrs. Dinks put her handkerchief to her nose, which she patted
gently, and waited for Mrs. Da