most
amusing experiences of my life."

"I don't think you'll forget it very soon," said Julia. "Your hand will
remind you."

"Well, I suppose I must be going," said Gideon reluctantly.

"No," pleaded Julia. "Why should you? Stay and have tea with me."

"If I thought you really wished me to stay," said Gideon, looking at his
hat, "of course I should only be too delighted."

"What a silly person you must take me for!" returned the girl. "Why, of
course I do; and, besides, I want some cakes for tea, and I've nobody to
send. Here is the latch-key."

Gideon put on his hat with alacrity, and casting one look at Miss
Hazeltine, and another at the legs of Hercules, threw open the door and
departed on his errand.

He returned with a large bag of the choicest and most tempting of cakes
and tartlets, and found Julia in the act of spreading a small tea-table
in the lobby.

"The rooms are all in such a state," she cried, "that I thought we
should be more cosy and comfortable in our own lobby, and under our own
vine and statuary."

"Ever so much better," cried Gideon delightedly.

"O what adorable cream tarts!" said Julia, opening the bag, "and the
dearest little cherry tartlets, with all the cherries spilled out into
the cream!"

"Yes," said Gideon, concealing his dismay, "I knew they would mix
beautifully; the woman behind the counter told me so."

"Now," said Julia, as they began their little festival, "I am going to
show you Morris's letter; read it aloud, please; perhaps there's
something I have missed."

Gideon took the letter, and spreading it out on his knee, read as
follows:--

"DEAR JULIA,--I write you from Browndean, where we are stopping over
for a few days. Uncle was much shaken in that dreadful accident, of
which, I dare say, you have seen the account. To-morrow I leave him
here with John, and come up alone; but before that, you will have
received a barrel _containing specimens for a friend_. Do not open it
on any account, but leave it in the lobby till I come.

"Yours in haste,
"M. FINSBURY.

"_P.S._--Be sure and leave the barrel in the lobby."

"No," said Gideon, "there seems to be nothing about the monument," and
he nodded, as he spoke, at the marble legs. "Miss Hazeltine," he
continued, "would you mind me asking a few questions?"

"Certainly not," replied Julia; "and if you can make me understand why
Morris has sent a statue of Hercules instead of a barrel conta