ur of the wife's arrival, and perhaps as to other particulars,
too; but excuse me, dear Mrs. Jones, and go on and tell the story."

"Well, but what made you say it was seven o'clock when his wife arrove?"
inquired the gossip.

"Because that was really the hour that I went up to Brudenell. Hannah
was with me and knows it."

"Law, honey, were you up to Brudenell yesterday evening?"

"To be sure I was! I thought you knew it! Haven't you just said that the
marriage was not acknowledged until his wife arrived?"

"Why, yes, honey; but what's that to do with it? with you being there, I
mean? Seems to me there's a puzzlement here between us? Did you stay
there till one o'clock, honey?"

"Why, no, of course not! We came away at eight."

"Then I'm blessed if I know what you're a-driving at! For, in course, if
you come away at eight o'clock you couldn't a-seen her."

"Seen whom?" questioned Nora.

"Why, laws, his wife, child, as never arrove till one o'clock."

Nora burst out laughing; and in the midst of her mirthfulness
exclaimed:

"There, now, Mrs. Jones, I thought you didn't know half the rights of
the story you promised to tell us, and now I'm sure of it! Seems like
you've heard Mr. Brudenell has acknowledged his marriage; but you
haven't even found out who the lady is! Well, I could tell you; but I
won't yet, without his leave."

"So you know all about it, after all? How did you find out?"

"Never mind how; you'll find out how I knew it when you hear the bride's
name," laughed Nora.

"But I have hearn the bride's name; and a rum un it is, too! Lady, Lady
Hoist? no! Hurl? no! Hurt? yes, that is it! Lady Hurt-me-so, that's the
name of the lady he's done married!" said the old woman confidently.

"Ha, ha, ha! I tell you what, Hannah, she has had too much wine, and it
has got into her poor old head!" laughed Nora, laying her hand
caressingly upon the red-cotton handkerchief that covered the gray hair
of the gossip.

"No, it aint, nuther! I never drunk the half of what you gin me! I put
it up there on the mantel, and kivered it over with the brass
candlestick, to keep till I go to bed. No, indeed! my head-piece is as
clear as a bell!" said the old woman, nodding.

"But what put it in there, then, that Mr. Herman Brudenell has married a
lady with a ridiculous name?" laughed Nora.

"Acause he have, honey! which I would a-told you all about it ef you
hadn't a-kept on, and kept on, and kept on interrupting of me