being so sly.

"Well, mamma," said Carry, "of course I thought you knew all about it. I
never made any secret of the affair. I knew very well that you had
rejected Mr. Tom, but I could not possibly suppose that was any reason
why I should refuse Charles. Of course he is older than I am, but he is
only five-and-thirty, and has a good position; and I am sure we shall
always give you a welcome; Charles said so."

"Well," thought Mrs. Wimbush, "he has money, and it will be all in the
family; that's at least a comfort."

The effect of the little episode of the last chapter was that the
brothers were made friends, and Tom recovered his spirits, and could
laugh heartily at what he had before supposed was his brother's rivalry.

Mrs. Wimbush repented her that she had rejected Mr. Tom. Her repentance
produced a salutary desire on her part to make atonement for the past.
She would have him yet. When a widow says so much as that about a man,
let him 'ware hawk.

A month went by, and behold Mrs Wimbush and Mr. Tom Brookshank seated
tete-a-tete at an evening party, where the music which was going on was
sufficiently loud to render private conversation inaudible save to those
to whom it was addressed.

"I fear," said the widow, affecting an absent manner, "I treated you
very unkindly, Mr. Tom. You took me so entirely by surprise, that,
really, I--hardly know what I said. I have been very unhappy about
it--very."

"Forgotten and forgiven," whispered Mr. Tom.

"How generous of you! you make me so glad! because now that your brother
Charles is going to marry my daughter, we shall be in some sort related,
and I could not bear you to think unkindly of me."

"No," said Mr. Tom, fidgeting a little, "I shall never do that."

"How droll!" said the widow. "Let me see, what will the relationship be?
You will be my son-in-law's brother, and consequently I shall be your
mother-in-law once removed. You will have a mother younger than
yourself, Mr. Tom. I hope you will not presume upon her youth to be a
bad boy."

"All this is very true," he answered; "but I see the relationship in a
far different light. I shall be your father-in-law, and consequently my
own brother's grandfather-in-law."

"You mistake, Mr. Tom. Don't you see that Carry--"

"No mistake at all about it, ma'am, for I've promised to marry your
mother, Mrs. Marrables!"

"Monster!" cried Mrs. Wimbush aloud, and went off shrieking.

The music stopped, and there was a g