not move Mr. Kennyfeck, and, although from the way he
nestled his chin behind the folds of his white cravat, and a certain
scarcely perceptible shake of the head, it was clear he longed to refute
the foul aspersion.

"I suppose you will appear at dinner, sir?" said Mrs. Kennyfeck, with
her grandest air.

"I hope so, Mrs. Kennyfeck," was the mild answer.

"Without you should take it into your head, pa, to enter into rivalry
with Mr. Linton, and stay away, heaven knows where or how long," said
Miss Kennyfeck.

Mr. Kennyfeck did not wait for more, but left the room with an air whose
solemnity well suited any amount of secrecy.

"Is there a carriage at the door?" said Mrs. Kennyfeck.

"No, mamma; there are three saddle-horses--one with a side-saddle. That
odious Miss Meek!" exclaimed Miss Kennyfeck; "what Lord Charles can see
in her I cannot conceive. To be sure, she saves a stable-boy the more,
and that to him is something."

"Has your father gone out by the back terrace?" resumed Mrs. Kennyfeck,
one only theme occupying her thoughts.

Olivia retired into an adjoining room, and soon returned, saying,--

"No, ma; there's no one there, except Sir Andrew and Lady Janet, taking
their morning walk."

"Their run, rather, my dear," chimed in Miss Kennyfeck, "for she chases
the poor old man up and down with a cup of camomile tea, which either
scalds or sets him a-coughing. I 'm sure that tiresome old couple have
awoke me every day the last week with their squabbling."

"Step down into the library, my love," said Mrs. Kennyfeck to her
younger daughter, "and bring, me up the 'Post' or the 'St. James's
Chronicle.'"

"And if you meet Phillis, Just ask if he saw your father, for he forgot
his gloves." And, suiting the action to the word, Aunt Fanny dived
into a cavern of an apron-pocket, and drew out a pair of knitted things
without fingers, which she offered to Olivia.

"Do no such thing, Miss Olivia Kennyfeck," said her mamma, with an air
of imposing grandeur.

"Ma wants the newspaper, Olivia, and is not thinking of papa," said Miss
Kennyfeck; and her eyes sparkled with a malicious fun she well knew how
to enjoy.

As Miss Olivia Kennyfeck left the room, her sister approached the
fireplace, where a small charred portion of the note thrown down by
her father was yet lying. She took it, and walking toward the window,
examined it carefully.

And while we leave her thus occupied, let us, for the reader's
information-