e train, and leaving
'my wife' behind me?"

"Mr. Brinkworth! that joke--if it _is_ a joke--is worn out!"

"I beg your pardon," said Arnold.

"You may leave your excuse to me," pursued Anne. "Do you go by the up
train, or the down?"

"By the up train."

The door opened suddenly; and Mr. Bishopriggs appeared with the dinner.
Anne nervously separated herself from Arnold. The one available eye of
Mr. Bishopriggs followed her reproachfully, as he put the dishes on the
table.

"I warned ye baith, it was a clean impossibility to knock at the door
this time. Don't blame me, young madam--don't blame _me!"_

"Where will you sit?" asked Arnold, by way of diverting Anne's attention
from the familiarities of Father Bishopriggs.

"Any where!" she answered, impatiently; snatching up a chair, and
placing it at the bottom of the table.

Mr. Bishopriggs politely, but firmly, put the chair back again in its
place.

"Lord's sake! what are ye doin'? It's clean contrary to a' the laws
and customs o' the honey-mune, to sit as far away from your husband as
that!"

He waved his persuasive napkin to one of the two chairs placed close
together at the table.

Arnold interfered once more, and prevented another outbreak of
impatience from Anne.

"What does it matter?" he said. "Let the man have his way."

"Get it over as soon as you can," she returned. "I can't, and won't,
bear it much longer."

They took their places at the table, with Father Bishopriggs behind
them, in the mixed character of major domo and guardian angel.

"Here's the trout!" he cried, taking the cover off with a flourish.
"Half an hour since, he was loupin' in the water. There he lies noo,
fried in the dish. An emblem o' human life for ye! When ye can spare any
leisure time from yer twa selves, meditate on that."

Arnold took up the spoon, to give Anne one of the trout. Mr. Bishopriggs
clapped the cover on the dish again, with a countenance expressive of
devout horror.

"Is there naebody gaun' to say grace?" he asked.

"Come! come!" said Arnold. "The fish is getting cold."

Mr. Bishopriggs piously closed his available eye, and held the cover
firmly on the dish. "For what ye're gaun' to receive, may ye baith be
truly thankful!" He opened his available eye, and whipped the cover off
again. "My conscience is easy noo. Fall to! Fall to!"

"Send him away!" said Anne. "His familiarity is beyond all endurance."

"You needn't wait," said Arnold.

"Eh! but