s John
and I are now, strangers is so disagreeable." And then the door was
opened by the maid-servant, and Mr. Kantwise was shown into the room.

"Halloo, Kantwise!" said Mr. Moulder, not rising from his chair, or
giving any very decided tokens of welcome. "I thought you were down
somewhere among the iron foundries?"

"So I was, Mr. Moulder, but I came up yesterday. Mrs. Moulder, allow
me to have the honour. I hope I see you quite well; but looking
at you I need not ask. Mr. Kenneby, sir, your very humble servant.
The day's coming on fast; isn't it, Mr. Kenneby? Ma'am, your very
obedient. I believe I haven't the pleasure of being acquainted."

"Mrs. Smiley, Mr. Kantwise. Mr. Kantwise, Mrs. Smiley," said the
lady of the house, introducing her visitors to each other in the
appropriate way.

"Quite delighted, I'm sure," said Kantwise.

"Smiley as is, and Kenneby as will be this day three weeks," said
Moulder; and then they all enjoyed that little joke, Mrs. Smiley by
no means appearing bashful in the matter although Mr. Kantwise was a
stranger.

"I thought I should find Mr. Kenneby here," said Kantwise, when the
subject of the coming nuptials had been sufficiently discussed, "and
therefore I just stepped in. No intrusion, I hope, Mr. Moulder."

"All right," said Moulder; "make yourself at home. There's the stuff
on the table. You know what the tap is."

"I've just parted from--Mr. Dockwrath," said Kantwise, speaking
in a tone of voice which implied the great importance of the
communication, and looking round the table to see the effect of it
upon the circle.

"Then you've parted from a very low-lived party, let me tell you
that," said Moulder. He had not forgotten Dockwrath's conduct in the
commercial room at Leeds, and was fully resolved that he never would
forgive it.

"That's as may be," said Kantwise. "I say nothing on that subject at
the present moment, either one way or the other. But I think you'll
all agree as to this: that at the present moment Mr. Dockwrath fills
a conspicuous place in the public eye."

"By no means so conspicuous as John Kenneby," said Mrs. Smiley, "if I
may be allowed in my position to hold an opinion."

"That's as may be, ma'am. I say nothing about that. What I hold by
is, that Mr. Dockwrath does hold a conspicuous place in the public
eye. I've just parted with him in Gray's Inn Lane, and he says--that
it's all up now with Lady Mason."

"Gammon!" said Moulder. And on this occ