an in the presence of another, without the qualifying his speech a
little); "and Mr. Lord Denbigh--earl like, as they say he now is,
and"--Peter stopped a moment to deliberate, and then making another
reference, he put the glass to his lips; but before he had got half
through its contents, recollected himself, and replenishing it to the
brim, with a smile acknowledging his forgetfulness, continued, "and the
Rev. Mr. Francis Ives, and the Rev. Mrs. Francis Ives."

Here the unrestrained laugh of John interrupted him; and considering with
himself that he had included the whole family, he finished his bumper.
Whether it was pleasure at his own eloquence in venturing on so long a
speech, or the unusual allowance, that affected the steward, he was
evidently much satisfied with himself, and stepped back behind his
master's chair, in great good humor.

Emily, as she thanked him, noticed a tear in the eye of the old man, as he
concluded his oration, that would have excused a thousand breaches of
fastidious ceremony. But Pendennyss rose from his seat, and took him
kindly by the hand, and returned his own thanks for his good wishes.

"I owe you much good will, Mr. Johnson, for, your two journeys in my
behalf, and trust I never shall forget the manner in which you executed
your last mission in particular. We are friends, I trust, for life."

"Thank you--thank your honor's lordship," said the steward, almost unable
to utter; "I hope you may live long, to make dear little Miss Emmy as
happy--as I know she ought to be."

"But really, my lord," cried John, observing that the steward's affection
for his sister had affected her to tears, "it was a singular circumstance,
the meeting of the four passengers of the stage so soon at your hotel."

Moseley explained his meaning to the rest of the company.

"Not so much so as you imagine," said the earl in reply; "yourself and
Johnson were in quest of me. Lord Henry Stapleton was under an engagement
to meet me that evening at the hotel, as we were both going to his
sister's wedding--I having arranged the thing with him by letter
previously; and General M'Carthy was also in search of me, on business
relating to his niece, the Donna Julia. He had been to Annerdale House,
and, through my servants, heard I was at an hotel. It was the first
interview between us, and not quite as amicable a one as has since been
had in Wales. During my service in Spain, I saw the Conde, but not the
general. The