ss, like two moons of brightness.... After supper, those four at
a certain signal fall down on their knees--glad homage paying in awful
mirth-rejoicing, and with such pure joy as angels do, we read, for the
sinner that repents. There comes a great knocking at the door whilst
they are so gathered together. Who can be there? My lord is in the
country miles off. It is past midnight now; so late have they been, so
long have they been talking! I think Mrs. Lambert guesses who is there.

"This is George," says a young gentleman, leading in another. "We have
been to Aunt Bernstein. We couldn't go to bed, Aunt Lambert, without
coming to thank you too. You dear, dear, good----" There is no more
speech audible. Aunt Lambert is kissing Harry, Theo has snatched up
Hetty who is as pale as death, and is hugging her into life again.
George Warrington stands with his hat off, and then (when Harry's
transaction is concluded) goes up and kisses Mrs. Lambert's hand: the
General passes his across his eyes. I protest they are all in a very
tender and happy state. Generous hearts sometimes feel it, when Wrong
is forgiven, when Peace is restored, when Love returns that had been
thought lost.

"We came from Aunt Bernstein's; we saw lights here, you see; we couldn't
go to sleep without saying good-night to you all," says Harry. "Could
we, George?"

"'Tis certainly a famous nightcap you have brought us, boys," says the
General. "When are you to come and dine with us? To-morrow?" No, they
must go to Madame Bernstein's to-morrow.

The next day, then? Yes, they would come the next day--and that is the
very day we are writing about: and this is the very dinner, at which, in
the room of Lieutenant-Colonel James Wolfe, absent on private affairs,
my gracious reader has just been invited to sit down.

To sit down, and why, if you please? Not to a mere Barmecide dinner--no,
no--but to hear MR. GEORGE ESMOND WARRINGTON'S STATEMENT, which of
course he is going to make. Here they all sit--not in my lord's grand
dining-room, you know, but in the snug study or parlour in front. The
cloth has been withdrawn, the General has given the King's health, the
servants have left the room, the guests sit conticent, and so, after a
little hemming and blushing, Mr. George proceeds:--

"I remember, at the table of our General, how the little Philadelphia
agent, whose wit and shrewdness we had remarked at home, made the very
objections to the conduct of the campaign