me, and see your benevolent intentions carried out."

Kenelm paused. Now that he was discovered, why should he not pass a few
days among his equals? Realities or shams might be studied with squires
no less than with farmers; besides, he had taken a liking to Travers.
That graceful _ci-devant_ Wildair, with the slight form and the delicate
face, was unlike rural squires in general. Kenelm paused, and then said
frankly,--

"I accept your invitation. Would the middle of next week suit you?"

"The sooner the better. Why not to-morrow?"

"To-morrow I am pre-engaged to an excursion with Mr. Bowles. That may
occupy two or three days, and meanwhile I must write home for other
garments than those in which I am a sham."

"Come any day you like."

"Agreed."

"Agreed; and, hark! the supper-bell."

"Supper," said Kenelm, offering his arm to Miss Travers,--"supper is a
word truly interesting, truly poetical. It associates itself with the
entertainments of the ancients, with the Augustan age, with Horace and
Maecenas; with the only elegant but too fleeting period of the modern
world; with the nobles and wits of Paris, when Paris had wits and
nobles; with Moliere and the warm-hearted Duke who is said to have been
the original of Moliere's Misanthrope; with Madame de Sevigne and the
Racine whom that inimitable letter-writer denied to be a poet; with
Swift and Bolingbroke; with Johnson, Goldsmith, and Garrick. Epochs are
signalized by their eatings. I honour him who revives the Golden Age of
suppers." So saying, his face brightened.

CHAPTER VI.

KENELM CHILLINGLY, ESQ., TO SIR PETER CHILLINGLY, BART., ETC.

MY DEAR FATHER,--I am alive and unmarried. Providence has watched over
me in these respects; but I have had narrow escapes. Hitherto I have not
acquired much worldly wisdom in my travels. It is true that I have been
paid two shillings as a day labourer, and, in fact, have fairly earned
at least six shillings more; but against that additional claim I
generously set off, as an equivalent, my board and lodging. On the other
hand, I have spent forty-five pounds out of the fifty which I devoted
to the purchase of experience. But I hope you will be a gainer by
that investment. Send an order to Mr. William Somers, basket-maker,
Graveleigh, -----shire, for the hampers and game-baskets you require,
and I undertake to say that you will save twenty per cent on that
article (all expenses of carriage deducted) and do a good act