h horrible grimaces through the mist. At last the widow
fell fairly asleep, and dreamed that she was married to the Blue Beard
of nursery annals, and that on his return from his memorable journey he
had caught her in the act of displaying the mysterious cupboard to Miss
Letitia. As he waved his scimitar over her head, he seemed
unaccountably to assume the form and features of the tutor. In her
agitation the poor woman could think of no plea against his severity,
except that the cupboard was already crammed with the corpses of his
previous wives, and there was no room for her. She was pleading this
argument when Miss Letitia's voice broke in upon her dream with
decisive accent:

"There's enough for two bodies."

The widow shrieked and awoke.

"High and low," explained Miss Letitia. "My dear, what _are_ you
screaming about?"

"I am very sorry indeed," said the widow; "I beg your pardon, I'm sure,
a thousand times. But since Mr. Jones's death I have been so nervous,
and I had such a horrible dream. And, oh dear! oh dear!" she added,
"what is the matter with my precious child? Macready, love, come to
your mamma, my pretty lamb."

Ugh! ugh! There were groans from the corner where Master MacGreedy sat
on his crackers as if they were eggs, and he hatching them. He had only
touched one, as yet, of the stock he had secured. He had picked it to
pieces, had avoided the snap, and had found a large comfit like an egg
with a rough shell inside. Every one knows that the goodies in crackers
are not of a very superior quality. There is a large amount of white
lead in the outside thinly disguised by a shabby flavour of sugar. But
that outside once disposed of, there lies an almond at the core. Now an
almond is a very delicious thing in itself, and doubly nice when it
takes the taste of white paint and chalk out of one's mouth. But in
spite of all the white lead and sugar and chalk through which he had
sucked his way, MacGreedy could not come to the almond. A dozen times
had he been on the point of spitting out the delusive sweetmeat; but
just as he thought of it he was sure to feel a bit of hard rough edge,
and thinking he had gained the kernel at last, he held valiantly on. It
only proved to be a rough bit of sugar, however, and still the
interminable coating melted copiously in his mouth; and still the
clean, fragrant almond evaded his hopes. At last with a groan he spat
the seemingly undiminished bonbon on to the floor, and turn