our visitor), command yourself for
a few moments. Is this young person the daughter of a Mr. Mangles, and is
her name Sarah Matilda?'

'I dessay,' answered Dudley, hurriedly.

'Is she your wife?'

'Is she my wife?' repeated Dudley, ill at ease.

'Yes, sir; it is a plain question.'

All this time Sarah Matilda was perpetually breaking into talk, and with
difficulty silenced by my uncle.

'Well, 'appen she says I am--does she?' replied Dudley.

'Is she your wife, sir?'

'Mayhap she so considers it, after a fashion,' he replied, with an impudent
swagger, seating himself as he did so.

'What do _you_ think, sir?' persisted Uncle Silas.

'I don't think nout about it,' replied Dudley, surlily.

'Is that account true?' said my uncle, handing him the paper.

'They wishes us to believe so, at any rate.'

'Answer directly, sir. We have our thoughts upon it. If it be true, it is
capable of _every_ proof. For expedition's sake I ask you. There is no use
in prevaricating.'

'Who wants to deny it? It _is_ true--there!'

'_There!_ I knew he would,' screamed the young woman, hysterically, with a
laugh of strange joy.

'Shut up, will ye?' growled Dudley, savagely.

'Oh, Dudley, Dudley, darling! what have I done?'

'Bin and ruined me, jest--that's all.'

'Oh! no, no, no, Dudley. Ye know I wouldn't. I could not--_could_ not hurt
ye, Dudley. No, no, no!'

He grinned at her, and, with a sharp side-nod, said--

'Wait a bit.'

'Oh, Dudley, don't be vexed, dear. I did not mean it. I would not hurt ye
for all the world. Never.'

'Well, never mind. You and yours tricked me finely; and now you've got
me--that's all.'

My uncle laughed a very odd laugh.

'I knew it, of course; and upon my word, madame, you and he make a very
pretty couple,' sneered Uncle Silas.

Dudley made no answer, looking, however, very savage.

And with this poor young wife, so recently wedded, the low villain had
actually solicited me to marry him!

I am quite certain that my uncle was as entirely ignorant as I of Dudley's
connection, and had, therefore, no participation in this appalling
wickedness.

'And I have to congratulate you, my good fellow, on having secured the
affections of a very suitable and vulgar young woman.'

'I baint the first o' the family as a' done the same,' retorted Dudley.

At this taunt the old man's fury for a moment overpowered him. In an
instant he was on his feet, quivering from head to foot. I never saw