onfidently. "He's a
big, tall, 'andsome man, with a 'ook nose an' a great cut on the bridge
of it all down 'is left cheek. You'll be sure to know 'im. But how
will you stop 'im?"

"That is more than I can tell at present, my dear," replied Pax, with a
careworn look, "but I'll hatch a plot of some sort durin' the lecture.--
Let me see," he added, with sudden animation, glancing at the limited
portion of sky that roofed the court, "I might howl 'im down! That's
not a bad idea. Yellin' is a powerful influence w'en brought properly
to bear. D'you mind waitin' in the porch till the lecture's over?"

"O no! I can wait as long as ever you please, if you'll only try to
save father," was Tottie's piteous response.

"Well, then, go into the porch and sit by the door, so that you can hear
and see what's goin' on. Don't be afraid of the one-eyed fair one who
guards the portals. She's not as bad as she looks; only take care that
you don't tread on her toes; she can't stand _that_."

Tottie promised to be careful in this respect, and expressed a belief
that she was too light to hurt Mrs Square, even if she did tread on her
toes accidentally.

"You're wrong, Tottie," returned Pax; "most females of your tender years
are apt to jump at wrong conclusions. As you live longer you'll find
out that some people's toes are so sensitive that they can't bear a
feather's weight on 'em. W'y, there's a member of our Society who riles
up directly if you even look at his toes. We keep that member's feet in
hot water pretty continuously, we do.--There now, I'll be too late if I
keep on talkin' like this. You'll not feel tired of the lecture, for
Solomon's sure to be interesting, whatever his subject may be. I don't
know what it is--he hasn't told us yet. You'll soon hear it if you
listen."

Pax re-entered the hall, and Tottie sat down by the door beside Mrs
Square, just as Solomon Flint rose to his legs amid thunders of
applause.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

THE POST OF THE OLDEN TIME.

When the applause had subsided Solomon Flint caused a slight feeling of
depression in the meeting by stating that the subject which he meant to
bring before them that evening was a historical view of the Post-Office.
Most of those present felt that they had had more than enough of the
Post-Office thrust on their attention every day of their lives, and the
irreverent member ventured to call out "Shop," but he was instantly and
indignantly called to o