e sound of laughter at a distance soon
aroused them to a sense of their exposed position, and they had barely
time to set things straight before Mr. Etheridge. Frank, Harry, and the
three girls came upon the scene.

No particular remarks were made at the time, but significant glances
from Mrs. Etheridge informed her husband and children of the pleasure
she had just tasted.

They returned to the house for dinner, and afterwards having adjourned
to the drawing room, Mrs. Etheridge ordered the servants to have coffee
and refreshments ready in the ante-room, but upon no account to disturb
their party, as the Doctor was going to give a scientific lecture.

As soon as the servants were gone the parson expressed his surprise at
Mrs. Etheridge's announcement, being, as he said, utterly unprepared to
give lectures at a minute's warning. To which the hostess replied with
a slightly ironical tone in her voice, "But, Doctor, you told me this
afternoon you could lecture upon and illustrate the first commandment
at any time. However, if you do not feel equal to lecturing for our
amusement, my Frank shall show some of his mesmeric tricks which he
acquired in Germany, and you shall be his first subject."

"Not the slightest objection in the world to that, if it will amuse
you, my dear Mrs. Etheridge," replied the rector, "but don't tell me
afterwards that I have been confessing to all sorts of scandalous
things, because I know these mesmeric lecturers can make their subjects
say anything."

During this dialogue Frank had, unobserved by the others, quietly put
Miss Blanche into a state of unconsciousness, then turning to Harry
told him that if he would submit to be again operated upon, he could
make him and the Doctor's niece dance and sing to his orders to amuse
the company.

Harry Mortimer was too good-natured to refuse, and after him Frank also
put the parson and Ada Manners into the same state, then as he looked
around upon his parents and sisters he asked them, with a look of
triumph, what the programme was to be.

Ethel: "You left me out of the little party over the stable the other
afternoon, so now it is my turn to be considered."

Papa: "By all means, my darling, only say what you wish for."

Ethel: "Then we will all strip, and as I wish particularly to feel that
great and reverend prick, I will kneel on the couch and have the Doctor
dog fashion, so we can see all what is going on. First make the two
girls frig each