the time had been the quickest upon
record.

Mr. Jellicorse, exulting in his safety, had imprinted the chaste salute
upon his good wife's cheek at ten minutes after one o'clock; when the
clerks in the office with laudable promptitude (not expecting him as
yet) had unanimously cast down pen, and betaken hand and foot toward
knife and fork. Instead of blaming them, this good lawyer went upon that
same road himself, with the great advantage that the road to his dinner
lay through his own kitchen. At dinner-time he had much to tell, and
many large helps to receive, of interest and of admiration, especially
from his pet child Emily (who forgot herself so largely as to lick her
spoon while gazing), and after dinner he was not without reasons for
letting perhaps a little of the time slip by. Therefore, by the time he
had described all dangers, discharged his duty to all comforts, and held
the little confidential talk with his wife and himself above recorded,
the clock had made its way to half past three.

Mrs. Jellicorse and Emily were gone forth to pay visits; the clerks,
shut away in their own room, were busy, scratching up a lovely case for
nisi prius; the cook had thrown the sifted cinders on the kitchen fire,
and was gone with the maids to exchange just a few constitutional words
with the gardener; and the whole house was drowsy with that by-time when
light and shadow seem to mix together, and far-away sounds take a faint
to and fro, as if they were the pendulum of silence.

"That is Emily's knock. Impatient child! Come back for her mother's
gloves, or something. All the people are out; I must go and let her in."

With these words, and a little placid frown--because a soft nap was
impending on his eyelids, and yet they were always glad to open on his
favorite--the worthy lawyer rose, and took a pinch of snuff to rouse
himself; but before he could get to the door, a louder and more
impatient rap almost made him jump.

"What a hurry you are in, my dear! You really should try to learn some
little patience."

While he was speaking, he opened the door; and behold, there was no
little girl, but a tall and stately gentleman in horseman's dress, and
of strong commanding aspect.

"What is your pleasure, sir?" the lawyer asked, while his heart began
to flutter; for exactly such a visitor had caused him scare of his life,
when stronger by a quarter of a century than now.

"My pleasure, or rather my business, is with Mr. Jel