hire that you do not like her.'

"'What! she has been abusing us to her friends, has she?' cried Miss
Brough (it was the very point I wished to insinuate). 'If she does not
like us, why does she not leave us?'

"'She _has_ made rather a long visit,' said I; 'and I am sure that her
nephew and niece are longing for her return. Pray, madam, do not move,
for you may aid me in the object for which I come.'

"The object for which I came, sir, was to establish a regular
battle-royal between the two ladies; at the end of which I intended to
appeal to Mrs. Hoggarty, and say that she ought really no longer to stay
in a house with the members of which she had such unhappy differences.
Well, sir, the battle-royal was fought,--Miss Belinda opening the fire,
by saying she understood Mrs. Hoggarty had been calumniating her to her
friends. But though at the end of it Miss rushed out of the room in a
rage, and vowed she would leave her home unless that odious woman left
it, your dear aunt said, 'Ha, ha! I know the minx's vile stratagems;
but, thank Heaven! I have a good heart, and my religion enables me to
forgive her. I shall not leave her excellent papa's house, or vex by my
departure that worthy admirable man.'

"I then tried Mrs. H. on the score of compassion. 'Your niece,' said I,
'Mrs. Titmarsh, madam, has been of late, Sam says, rather
poorly,--qualmish of mornings, madam,--a little nervous, and low in
spirits,--symptoms, madam, that are scarcely to be mistaken in a young
married person.'

"Mrs. Hoggarty said she had an admirable cordial that she would send Mrs.
Samuel Titmarsh, and she was perfectly certain it would do her good.

"With very great unwillingness I was obliged now to bring my last reserve
into the field, and may tell you what that was, Sam my boy, now that the
matter is so long passed. 'Madam,' said I, 'there's a matter about which
I must speak, though indeed I scarcely dare. I dined with your nephew
yesterday, and met at his table a young man--a young man of low manners,
but evidently one who has blinded your nephew, and I too much fear has
succeeded in making an impression upon your niece. His name is Hoskins,
madam; and when I state that he who was never in the house during your
presence there, has dined with your too confiding nephew sixteen times in
three weeks, I may leave you to imagine what I dare not--dare not imagine
myself.'

"The shot told. Your aunt bounced up at once, and in ten minut