o
feed. Was n't that a carriage I heard in the 'cour'? Oh, pray don't open
the window; there's an odious _libeccio_ blowing to-day, and there's
nothing so injurious to the nervous system."

"A cabinet messenger, your Excellency," said a servant, entering.

"What a bore! I hoped I was safe from a despatch for at least a month to
come. I really believe they have no veneration for old institutions in
England. They don't even celebrate Christmas!"

"I'm charmed at the prospect of a bag," cried the Princess.

"May I have the messenger shown in here, Princess?"

"Certainly; by all means."

"Happy to see your Excellency; hope your Ladyship is in good health,"
said a smart-looking young fellow, who wore a much-frogged pelisse, and
sported a very well-trimmed moustache.

"Ah, Stevins, how d'ye do?" said Upton. "You've had a cold journey over
the Cenis."

"Came by the Splugen, your Excellency. I went round by Vienna, and
Maurice Esterhazy took me as far as Milan."

The Princess stared with some astonishment. That the messenger should
thus familiarly style one of that great family was indeed matter of
wonderment to her; nor was it lessened as Upton whispered her, "Ask him
to dine."

"And London, how is it? Very empty, Stevins?" continued he.

"A desert," was the answer.

"Where's Lord Adderley?"

"At Brighton. The King can't do without him,--greatly to Adderley's
disgust; for he is dying to have a week's shooting in the Highlands."

"And Cantworth, where is he?"

"He's off for Vienna, and a short trip to Hungary. I met him at dinner
at the mess while waiting for the Dover packet. By the way, I saw a
friend of your Excellency's,--Harcourt."

"Not gone to India?"

"No. They've made him a governor or commander-in-chief of something in
the Mediterranean; I forget exactly where or what."

"You have brought me a mighty bag, Stevins," said Upton, sighing. "I had
hoped for a little ease and rest now that the House is up."

"They are all blue-books, I believe," replied Stevins. "There's that
blacking your Excellency wrote about, and the cricket-bats; the lathe
must come out by the frigate, and the down mattress at the same time."

"Just do me the favor to open the bag, my dear Stevins. I am utterly
without aid here," said Upton, sighing drearily; and the other proceeded
to litter the table and the floor with a variety of strange and
incongruous parcels.

"Report of factory commissioners," cried he, throwing down