e found the young
parson already in parley with a servant there. "His master and mistress
had left town yesterday," the servant said.

"Poor Jack! And you had the decisive letter in your pocket?" George
asked of his future brother-in-law.

"Well, yes,"--Jack owned he had the document--"and my mother has ordered
a chair, and was coming to wait on Miss Lyddy," he whispered piteously,
as the young men lingered on the steps.

George had a note, too, in his pocket for the young lady, which he had
not cared to mention to Jack. In truth, his business at home had been to
write a smart note to Miss Lyddy, with a message for the gentleman who
had brought her that funny story of his giving information regarding the
duel! The family being absent, George, too, did not choose to leave his
note. "If cousin Will has been the slander-bearer, I will go and make
him recant," thought George. "Will the family soon be back?" he blandly
asked.

"They are gone to visit the quality," the servant replied. "Here is the
address on this paper;" and George read, in Miss Lydia's hand, "The box
from Madam Hocquet's to be sent by the Farnham Flying Coach; addressed
to Miss Van den Bosch, at the Right Honourable the Earl of Castlewood's,
Castlewood, Hants."

"Where?" cried poor Jack, aghast.

"His lordship and their ladyships have been here often," the servant
said, with much importance. "The families is quite intimate."

This was very strange; for, in the course of their conversation, Lyddy
had owned but to one single visit from Lady Castlewood.

"And they must be a-going to stay there some time, for Miss have took
a power of boxes and gowns with her!" the man added. And the young men
walked away, each crumpling his letter in his pocket.

"What was that remark you made?" asks George of Jack, at some
exclamation of the latter. "I think you said----"

"Distraction! I am beside myself, George! I--I scarce know what I am
saying," groans the clergyman. "She is gone to Hampshire, and Mr. Esmond
is gone with her!"

"Othello could not have spoken better! and she has a pretty scoundrel
in her company!" says Mr. George. "Ha! here is your mother's chair!"
Indeed, at this moment poor Aunt Lambert came swinging down Great
Russell Street, preceded by her footman. "'Tis no use going farther,
Aunt Lambert!" cries George. "Our little bird has flown."

"What little bird?"

"The bird Jack wished to pair with:--the Lyddy bird, aunt. Why, Jack, I
protest y