would
willingly have gone up the flue herself, so that only she
could thereby have secured the smoke's doing the same. "I
always knew that chimney was bad -- I had it once a while
myself -- I'm sorry you've got it now. What _do_ you do, Mr.
Winthrop?"

"The smoke and I take turns in going out, Mrs. Nettley."

"Eh? -- Does it often come in so? Can't you help it?"

"It generally takes advice with the wind, not with me, ma'am."

"But the chimney might have better advice. I'll get George to
fetch a doctor -- I had forgotten it was so bad, I had quite
forgotten it, and you never say a word -- Mr. Landholm, you
never come to see us."

"I have so much else to see," he said, glancing at his book.

"Yes, and that reminds me -- Have you heard the news?"

"I have heard none to-day."

"Then you heard it yesterday, -- of course you did; but I hear
so little, when anything comes to me that's new I always think
it must be new to everybody else. But of course _you_ must know
it, as it is about friends of yours; I dare say you knew it
long ago; -- though such things are kept close sometimes, even
from friends; and I somehow was surprised to hear this, though
I had no right to be, for I suppose I had no reason for my
fancy. I think a good many things I have no reason for, George
thinks. Maybe I do. I cant help it."

"But what is the thing in this case, Mrs. Nettley?" said
Winthrop smiling.

"Why George told me -- don't you know? I was a little
disappointed, Mr. Winthrop."

"Why?"

"Why, I had a fancy things were going another way."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"That's because I talk so ill -- It's this piece of news George
brought home yesterday -- he was dining out, for a wonder, with
this gentleman who is going to sit to him; I forget his name,
-- Mr. -- I don't know what it is! -- but I am foolish to talk
about it. Won't you come down and take a cup of tea with us
to-night, Mr. Landholm? that's what I came up to ask, and not
to stand interrupting you. But you've quite forgotten us
lately."

"Thank you, Mrs. Nettley, I'll come with great pleasure -- on
condition that you tell me your news."

"The news? O it's no news to you -- it's only this about Miss
Haye."

"What about Miss Haye?"

"They say that she is going to get married, to a Mr.
Cadwallader, George said. Her cousin I suppose; there is a
cousinship of that name, isn't there, Mr. Landholm?"

Mr. Landholm bowed.

"And had you heard