ger, said, "It will give me much
pleasure to put your message into German, Madam, if it will at all
convenience you."

It was not till after a very searching look into his face, and an
apparently satisfactory examination of his features, that she replied,
"Well, Sir, I make no objection; there can be no great secrecy in what
passes through a telegraph-office. You can do it, if you please."

Now, though the speech was not a very gracious acknowledgment of a
proffered service, Loyd took the paper and proceeded to read it. It was
not without an effort, however, that he could constrain himself so far
as not to laugh aloud at the contents, which began by an explanation
that the present inconvenience was entirely owing to the very shameful
arrangements made by the steam packet company for the landing of
passengers at intermediate stations, and through which the complainant,
travelling with her nieces, Millicent and Florence Walter, and her
maids, Susannah Tucker and Mary Briggs, and having for luggage the
following articles----

"May I observe, Madam," said Loyd, in a mild tone of remonstrance, "that
these explanations are too lengthy for the telegraph, not to say very
costly, and as your object is simply to reclaim a missing article of
your baggage--"

"I trust, Sir, that having fully satisfied your curiosity as to who
we are, and of what grievance we complain, that you will spare me your
comments as to the mode in which we prefer our demand for redress; but I
ought to have known better, and I deserve it!" and, snatching the paper
rudely from his hand, she dashed out of the room in passion.

"By Jove! you fared worse than myself," said Calvert, as he laughed loud
and long. "You got a heavier castigation for your polite interference
than I did for my impertinence."

"It is a lesson, at all events," said Loyd, still blushing for his late
defeat "I wonder is she all right up here," and he touched his forehead
significantly.

"Of course she is. Nay, more, I'll wager a Nap. that in her own set,
amidst the peculiar horrors who form her daily intimates, she is a
strong-minded sensible woman, 'that won't stand humbug,' and so on.
These are specialities; they wear thick shoes, woollen petticoats, and
brown veils, quarrel with cabmen, and live at Clapham."

"But why do they come abroad?"

"Ah! that is the question that would puzzle nineteen out of every
twenty of us. With a panorama in Leicester-square, and a guide-book in