ation
to a space of ground containing a small garden, quaintly trimmed in the
Dutch taste, and a brick house of moderate dimensions, half overgrown
with ivy and jessamine, Clarence and his inviter paused at the door of
the said mansion, and the latter welcomed his guest to his abode.

"Pardon me," said Clarence, as a damsel in waiting opened the door, "but
a very severe attack of rheumatism obliges me to keep on my hat: you
will, I hope, indulge me in my rudeness."

"To be sure, to be sure, sir. I myself suffer terribly from rheumatism
in the winter; though you look young, sir, very young, to have an
old man's complaint. Ah, the people of my day were more careful of
themselves, and that is the reason we are such stout fellows in our
age."

And the worthy steward looked complacently down at legs which very
substantially filled their comely investments. "True, sir," said
Clarence, laying his hand upon that of the steward, who was just about
to open the door of an apartment; "but suffer me at least to request you
not to introduce me to any of the ladies of your family. I could not,
were my very life at stake, think of affronting them by not doffing
my hat. I have the keenest sense of what is due to the sex, and I must
seriously entreat you, for the sake of my health during the whole of
the coming winter, to suffer our conversation not to take place in their
presence."

"Sir, I honour your politeness," said the prim little steward: "I,
myself, like every true Briton, reverence the ladies; we will therefore
retire to my study. Mary, girl," turning to the attendant, "see that we
have a nice chop for supper in half an hour; and tell your mistress that
I have a gentleman of quality with me upon particular business, and must
not be disturbed."

With these injunctions, the steward led the way to the farther end of
the house, and, having ushered his guest into a small parlour, adorned
with sundry law-books, a great map of the estate, a print of the
late owner of it, a rusty gun slung over the fireplace, two stuffed
pheasants, and a little mahogany buffet,--having, we say, led Clarence
to this sanctuary of retiring stewardship, he placed a seat for him and
said,--"Between you and me, sir, be it respectfully said, I am not
sorry that our little confabulation should pass alone. Ladies are very
delightful, very delightful, certainly: but they won't let one tell a
story one's own way; they are fidgety, you know, sir,--fidgety, no