And then she talked a good deal, and then she lay down on
the sofa, and went to sleep."

"I am very sorry. My dears, you should never meddle with the decanters.
You should have called Jacob, who would have known what to bring."

"But Jake was not in reach. He was away down in the stable yard, talking
to a crowd of grooms and other men and boys. I saw him through the back
windows, and I knew he was telling them all about what happened in the
church. Oh, Miss Meeke, do you think she will die? Oh, just hear how she
snores! Will she wake up in fits?" cried Elva, in fright.

"No, my dear," said the governess, looking attentively upon the woman.
"No; don't be alarmed. I think her condition is as much the effect of
reaction from fatigue and excitement as of the brandy. Besides, she is
wearing a tight dress, and lying in a cramped position, all of which
obstructs her breathing. We must wake her up."

But at this moment Mr. Force and Leonidas came in, talking eagerly, and
their abrupt entrance startled the woman out of her slumber. She sat up,
rubbed her eyes, yawned loudly, asked where she was, and expressed a
suspicion that she had been asleep.

Wynnette gave her Mrs. Force's bottle of sal ammonia that stood, by
chance, on the sofa table.

Elva ran out and brought a glass of ice water.

She sniffed the salts strongly, with an:

"Ah! Ah-h! That's the sort!"

She drank the water audibly, and handed back the goblet, with a loudly
drawn breath and an:

"Ah! Ah-h! Lord, Lord, what a day this has been!"

"I hope you have rested, ma'am," said Mr. Force, politely.

"Oh, yes; I'm all right now, thanky'! Where's your old 'oman and the gal?
I hope they have taken no harm from that there rumpus?"

"None whatever. Mrs. Force will be down in a few moments."

The lady entered the room while he was speaking.

She still wore the rich purple velvet dress that she had put on for the
wedding. In fact, no one had made any change in their costumes, except to
lay off bonnets, wraps and gloves.

Dinner was now announced.

Mr. Force gave the stranger his arm, and led the way to the dining room,
followed by the other members of the party.

As the dinner went on, each member of the family felt more and more wonder
that Col. Anglesea should ever have thought of marrying the woman who
claimed him. Handsome, good-humored and sensible she certainly was;
but--she talked and laughed loudly, called the master and mistress of the
house the