mistook me for her
lover, thrust her arm through mine, and said, 'Dear Thurston, come home
with me--'"

"Oh! you shocking old fye-for-shame! I said no such thing! I said,
Thurston! Come! Jump in the sleigh and go home with us.'"

"It makes little difference, madam! The meaning was the same. I will not
be responsible for a literal report. You are discovered."

"What does that mean? If it means you have discovered that I mistook you
for Thurston Willcoxen, you ought to 'walk on thrones' the rest of your
life! You never got such a compliment before, and never will again!"

"Aye! go on, madam! You and your conniving aunt--"

"Dr. Grimshaw, if you dare to say or hint such impertinence to me again,
you shall leave your seat much more quickly than you took it," said Mrs.
Waugh.

"We shall see, madam!" said the professor, and he lapsed into sullenness
for the remainder of the drive.

But, oh! there was one in that sleigh upon whose heart the words of wild
Jacko had fallen with cruel weight-Marian!

CHAPTER XXII.

PETTICOAT DISCIPLINE.

When the sulky sleighing party reached Luckenough they found Commodore
Waugh not only up and waiting, but in the highest state of
self-satisfaction, a blessing of which they received their full share of
benefit, for the old man, in the overflowing of his joy, had ordered an
oyster supper, which was now all ready to be served smoking hot to the
chilled and hungry sleigh-riders.

"I wonder what's out now?" said Jacquelina, as she threw off her
wrappings, scattering them heedlessly on the chairs and floor of the
hall. "Some awful calamity has overtaken some of Uncle Nick's enemies.
Nothing on earth but that ever puts him into such a jolly humor. Now
we'll see! I wonder if it is a 'crowner's 'quest' case? Wish it was
Grim."

Mrs. Henrietta blessed her stars for the good weather, without inquiring
very closely where it came from, as she conducted Marian to a bedroom
to lay off her bonnet and mantle.

It was only at the foot of his own table, after ladling out and serving
around the stewed oysters "hot and hot," that the commodore, rubbing his
hands, and smiling until his great face was as grotesque as a
nutcracker's, announced that Miss Nancy Skamp was turned out of
office--yea, discrowned, unsceptred, dethroned, and that Harry Barnwell
reigned in her stead. The news had come in that evening's mail! All
present breathed more freely--all felt an inexpressible relief in
knowing