a has had lately much to distract her attention," says
the jest-hunting Squire; "but her things were never better in spite
of--. Well we won't touch upon that subject!"

And the mischievous Squire laughs heartily at Miss Lavinia's stately
and reproving expression.

"What's that?" says Mr. Rushton; "what subject?"

"Oh, nothing--nothing."

"What does he mean, madam?" asks Mr. Rushton, of the lady.

Miss Lavinia colors slightly, and looks more stately than ever.

"Nothing, sir," she says, with dignity.

"'Nothing!' nobody ever means anything!"

"Oh, never," says the Squire, and then he adds,
mischievously,--"by-the-by, Rushton, how is my friend, Mr.
Roundjacket?"

"As villainous as ever," says the lawyer; "my opinion of Mr.
Roundjacket, sir, is, that he is a villain!"

Miss Lavinia colors to the temples--the Squire nearly bursts with
pent-up laughter.

"What has he done? A villain did you say?" he asks.

"Yes, sir!--a wretch!"

"Possible?"

"Yes--it is possible: and if you knew as much of human nature as I do,
you would never feel surprised at any man's turning out a villain and
a wretch! I am a wretch myself, sir!"

And scowling at the Squire, Mr. Rushton goes on with his breakfast.

The Squire utters various inarticulate sounds which seem to indicate
the stoppage of a bone in his throat. Nevertheless he soon recovers
his powers of speech, and says:

"But how is Roundjacket so bad?"

"He has taken to writing poetry."

"That's an old charge."

"No, sir--he has grown far worse, lately. He is writing an epic--an
epic!"

And the lawyer looked inexpressibly disgusted.

"I should think a gentleman might compose an epic poem without
rendering himself amenable to insult, sir," says Miss Lavinia, with
freezing hauteur.

"You are mistaken," says Mr. Rushton; "your sex, madam, know nothing
of business. The lawyer who takes to writing poetry, must necessarily
neglect the legal business entrusted to him, and for which he is paid.
Now, madam," added Mr. Rushton, triumphantly, "I defy you, or any
other man--individual, I mean--to say that the person who takes money
without giving an equivalent, is not a villain and a wretch!"

Miss Lavinia colors, and mutters inarticulately.

"Such a man," said Mr. Rushton, with dreadful solemnity, "is already
on his way to the gallows; he has already commenced the downward
course of crime. From this, he proceeds to breach of promise--I mean
any promise, not of marria