he evening, for
the last new suit, for the purpose of alteration, as had been already
pointed out.

Miss Macgilligan had preceded her nephew in reaching home, and gave
him, on his arrival, an appropriate and edifying lecture on a three-fold
subject, embracing--petulancy,--respect to superiors,--and veneration
for the memory of our ancestors.

The Baronet, who never designed seriously to insult his aunt, but merely
to have a bye-blow at her prominent foible,--pride of descent,--listened
with becoming deference to her dissertation, which was interrupted
by the entrance of his servant, (the same who on a certain
occasion confided to Mother Cummings the safety of his master's
property,{1})--"The tailor's boy, Sir Felix, for the new suit your Honor
ordered to be altered."--"Very well," rejoined Sir Felix, "sure enough
Mr. Snip is prompt in observance of instructions,--let the lad have
the suit immediately."--This business having been despatched, Miss
Macgilligan was about to resume her admonitory discourse; when, luckily,
the arrival of the expected guests prevented its continuance, and it was
consequently postponed until a more favourable opportunity.

1 Vide page 130.

Dinner was shortly announced, during which nothing occurred of
particular import. When the exhilirating "Tuscan grape" had superseded
the discarded viands, Miss Macgilligan mentioned, that she had been
grossly imposed upon by the driver of the hackney-chariot. It seems,
that conceiving Jehu was exacting more than his fare, the lady,
presenting a handful of silver, told him to take it all, if he thought
proper, and the conscientious knight of the whip had actually embraced
the offer in its literal acceptation, and pocketing the money, made the
best of his way, before she recovered from the surprise occasioned by
this "iniquitous" transaction.

~~238~~~ "Iniquitous!" repeated the Baronet;--"by the powers of folly
but there was no advantage taken at all, at all; and the man must
have been worse than an idiot had he rejected so liberal an offer!
Gra-machree, he might cry, and thanks to the donor, such opportunities
don't occur every day."

Appealing to her guests, she had the mortification of finding the
opinion of her nephew supported.--"Certainly, madam," said Dashall, "the
conduct of the man in putting a construction not meant upon your word,
was highly reprehensible; yet I am afraid that redress is unavailable.
A gift was implied, though obvious