ing a comrade as he
raised his glass, "who did you get your card through? What sort of a
family is it, anyhow?"

"Got mine through Gusher. He's a kind of a spoon, you know. Don't know
anything of the fellow, particularly--met him outside, you know. He's
mighty sweet on the filly. She's pretty. Would'nt mind being sweet on
her myself. I'd be a little afraid the old one would want to throw
herself into the bargain. What a crusher of a mother-in-law she'd make,"
returned the young man.

"An odd-sized lot, anyhow," interrupted a third. "How frightfully the
old lady's got herself up, eh? What a melancholy little specimen of
humanity she's got for a husband, eh? Who are the Chapmans, anyhow?"

"Devilish new, devilish new," rejoined a fourth. "What a mixed lot they
have got for company."

"Fill up! fill up! gentlemen. Here's a bumper to the beautiful daughter.
Beauty and modesty carry us all captive in their charms. Let us drink to
the daughter." And they filled their glasses and drank Mattie's health.

"When my missus inwites pussons to de ball, my missus 'specs dem ar
gemmens what is inwited to presarve dar qualifications. If gemmen am
gemmen den dey don't cum'd to my missus's ball to suffocate her!" said
Bowles, expressing himself, and assuming an air of injured dignity.

Bowles had to pay dear for his speech in defence of the family, for the
young gentlemen surrounded him, and, getting him into a high chair at
the head of the table, compelled him to perform all sorts of antics for
their amusement, such as making speeches and singing songs. They also
made Bowles drink so many times to the lady whose livery he had the
honor to wear, that he lost his senses, and fancied himself fighting any
man who had said a word against the family. Indeed, it soon became
necessary to extinguish Mr. Bowles, and to that end the young gentlemen
rolled him up in the table-cover, and put him carefully away in a
corner, where he soon went into a sound sleep, and remained until his
master woke him up on the following morning.

CHAPTER XXIV.

VERY PERPLEXING.

While these young gentlemen were thus enjoying themselves, and taking
such liberties with Mrs. Chapman's favorite servant, Romer entered the
room, and was followed in a few minutes by Gusher. They had again met
unexpectedly, for there was something nervous and hesitating in Gusher's
manner. Romer seemed to be a general favorite with the young men, and
they insisted that he