w!" said Miss Kennyfeck, equally angry at the counsel and the
vulgarity of the expression it was couched in. "Livy, attend to _me_,"
said she again. "Mr. Cashel has sent for papa this morning to make a
formal--Hush! here is pa himself." And Mr. Kennyfeck's heavy tread was
heard approaching the door.

Mr. Kennyfeck's sudden entrance not only closed the discussion, but left
the debaters in the difficulty of having no concerted line of conduct
respecting the new arrival; and although Mrs. Kennyfeck's eyebrows were
worked with a telegraphic activity, and Miss Kennyfeck's pantomimic
replies as promptly returned, it was clear that neither comprehended the
other. Kaunitz lays it down as an axiom that "when two wings of an army
are in presence of an enemy, and without means of rapid and certain
communication, it is always better to act on the defensive than to
attack, without some evident weak point of the adversary encourages a
forward movement." It is more than probable that neither Mrs. Kennyfeck
nor her fair daughter had studied the authority in question, yet, with a
tact quite instinctive, they proceeded to act upon it.

"You are back early, Mr. Kennyfeck," said his wife, with a tone of half
indifference.

Mr. Kennyfeck looked at his watch, and said it wanted twenty minutes to
twelve.

"Has Mr. Linton returned, pa?" asked Miss Kennyfeck.

"I believe not. I have not heard that he has."

"It would be little loss if he never did!" said Aunt Fanny, as she
bit the end of an obstinate thread that would not enter the eye of her
needle.

"Oh, Aunt Fanny!" exclaimed Olivia, in a deprecating tone.

"'Pon my word, my dear, them 's my sentiments--whatever yours is."

"Mr. Cashel certainly thinks differently," said Mrs. Kennyfeck, glad to
introduce the name uppermost in all their thoughts.

"I think of late there has been something like a coldness between
them--You see them very rarely together. Did Mr. Cashel mention his name
to you this morning, Mr. Kennyfeck?" said his wife; and by this sudden
question revealing that they knew, at least, where he had been.

"Mere passingly, incidentally," said Mr. Kennyfeck, evidently amazed
that his small mystery had been penetrated; then, after a slight pause,
he added, very probably with a sly malice to pique curiosity, "Mr.
Cashel is desirous of Mr. Linton's counsel on a step he meditates
taking."

"Indeed, sir; and has he much confidence in Mr. Linton's judgment?"

"In this inst