d from that day forth she would never never leave me.

"What could have made Aunt return and be so angry?" said I to Mary that
night, as we were in our own room; but my wife protested she did not
know: and it was only some time after that I found out the reason of this
quarrel, and of Mrs. H.'s sudden reappearance.

The horrible fat coarse little Smithers told me the matter as a very good
joke, only the other year, when he showed me the letter of Hickson,
Dixon, Paxton and Jackson, which has before been quoted in my Memoirs.

"Sam my boy," said he, "you were determined to leave Mrs. Hoggarty in
Brough's clutches at the Rookery, and I was determined to have her away.
I resolved to kill two of your mortal enemies with one stone as it were.
It was quite clear to me that the Reverend Grimes Wapshot had an eye to
your aunt's fortune; and that Mr. Brough had similar predatory intentions
regarding her. Predatory is a mild word, Sam: if I had said robbery at
once, I should express my meaning clearer.

"Well, I took the Fulham stage, and arriving, made straight for the
lodgings of the reverend gentleman. 'Sir,' said I, on finding that
worthy gent,--he was drinking warm brandy-and-water, Sam, at two o'clock
in the day, or at least the room smelt very strongly of that
beverage--'Sir,' says I, 'you were tried for forgery in the year '14, at
Lancaster assizes.'

"'And acquitted, sir. My innocence was by Providence made clear,' said
Wapshot.

"'But you were not acquitted of embezzlement in '16, sir,' says I, 'and
passed two years in York Gaol in consequence.' I knew the fellow's
history, for I had a writ out against him when he was a preacher at
Clifton. I followed up my blow. 'Mr. Wapshot,' said I, 'you are making
love to an excellent lady now at the house of Mr. Brough: if you do not
promise to give up all pursuit of her, I will expose you.'

"'I _have_ promised,' said Wapshot, rather surprised, and looking more
easy. 'I have given my solemn promise to Mr. Brough, who was with me
this very morning, storming, and scolding, and swearing. Oh, sir, it
would have frightened you to hear a Christian babe like him swear as he
did.'

"'Mr. Brough been here?' says I, rather astonished.

"'Yes; I suppose you are both here on the same scent,' says Wapshot. 'You
want to marry the widow with the Slopperton and Squashtail estate, do
you? Well, well, have your way. I've promised not to have anything more
to do with the widow a