ty of speaking to you, for I
have something very particular to say, which you must hear without
taking offense at your old aunty!"

"Humph! I am in for petticoat discipline this morning, beyond a doubt,"
thought the young man; but he only bowed, and placed a chair for Mrs.
Waugh.

"I shall speak very plainly, Thurston."

"Oh! by all means! As plainly as you please, Mrs. Waugh," said Thurston,
with an odd grimace; "I am growing accustomed to have ladies speak very
plainly to me."

"Well! it won't do you any harm, Thurston. And now to the point! I told
you before, that you must not show any civility to Jacquelina. And now I
repeat it! And I warn you that if you do, you will cause some frightful
misfortune that you will have to repent all the days of your life--if it
be not fatal first of all to yourself. I do assure you that old Grimshaw
is mad with jealousy. He can no longer be held responsible for his
actions. And in short, you must see Jacquelina no more!"

"Whe-ew! a second time this morning! Come! I'm getting up quite the
reputation of a lady-killer!" thought the young man. Then with a light
laugh, he looked up to Mrs. Waugh, and said:

"My dear madam, do you take me for a man who would willingly disturb the
peace or honor of a family?"

"Pshaw! By no means, my dear Thurston. Of course I know it's all the
most ridiculous nonsense!"

"Well! By the patience of Job, I do think--"

Again Thurston's words were suddenly cut short, by the entrance of--the
commodore, who planted his cane down with his usual emphatic force, and
said:

"Oh, sir! You here! I am very glad of it! There is a little matter to be
discussed between you and me! Old Hen! leave us! vanish! evaporate!"

Henrietta was well pleased to do so. And as she closed the door the
commodore turned to Thurston, and with another emphatic thump of his
cane, said:

"Well, sir! a small craft is soon rigged, and a short speech soon made.
In two words, how dare you, sir! make love to Jacquelina?"

"My dear uncle--"

"By Neptune, sir; don't 'uncle' me. I ask you how you dared to make love
to my niece?"

"Sir, you mistake, she made love to me."

"You impudent, impertinent, unprincipled jackanape."

"Come," said Thurston to himself, "I have got into a hornet's nest this
morning."

"I shall take very good care, sir, to have Major Le Roy informed what
sort of a gentleman it is who is paying his addresses to his daughter."

"Miss Le Roy will be likely