ifty
times, and father's threatened him and beat him, but he would come."

"What! did he want to marry you?"

"Yes, Sir Orkus, but I wouldn't demean myself to listen to him."

"Of course not! a poaching vagabond. Go on, go on." Every eye was
fixed on Polly, whose cheeks were scarlet, as she gave me a sharp look,
full of encouragement.

"Yes, Sir Orkus, and he was always bringing me his rubbish, and wanting
me to have it, hankychies, and ribbings, and a gilt brooch, as you could
see wasn't gold."

"And you wouldn't take them?"

"No, Sir Orkus, never nothing, and then he said it was because I was too
proud, and thought they wasn't good enough for me, and then he didn't
come any more till one day when he brought me a silver watch."

A curious murmur ran through the room, and my mother ran to my side and
threw her arms about my neck.

"Yes, go on, Polly," said the General, rubbing his hands. "What sort of
a watch was it?"

"A little one, sir, with a fancy face and two letters cut in a round
spot on the back."

"What letters were they?" said the General.

"A Hee and a B, sir."

"Eliezer Burr," said the Doctor loudly. "Hah!" and he took off his
gold-rimmed spectacles, rubbed them, and began to beam.

"Should you--" began my uncle.

"No, no, no, Seaborough; allow me," said the General. "My turn. I was
coming to that. Now, Polly, be careful, and don't say anything rash,
because this is very serious."

"Oh yes, Sir Orkus."

"Dear me, Doctor," said the General apologetically, "I am sorry we have
no h's here."

"Pray go on, Sir Hawkhurst," said the Doctor, smiling, and aspirating
both in the name forcibly.

"Now, Polly, should you know that watch?"

"Oh yes, Sir Orkus; both the hands were together at twelve o'clock, and
the glass was a bit scratched, and I told him I didn't believe he came
by the watch honest, and that if ever he dared to come near the place
again to want me to accept his rubbish, I'd take father's gun down out
of the slings and give him a charge of shot in his legs."

"Then, Polly, you didn't take the watch?"

"Me, Sir Orkus!" cried Polly indignantly; "I should think not, indeed.
I told him to be off, and he went away in a huff."

"In a what?"

"A huff, Sir Orkus, a huff--a passion."

"Oh, I see. And now tell me--be careful. Give me the--the--thank you.
Now, Polly, is that anything like the watch?"

"Oh yes, Sir Orkus, that's the very one. If you open it, you'll hear it