g doubts of the man's orthodoxy, as well
as of the purity of his doctrine.

"Yes, my dear," replied Mrs. Mainwaring, after having glanced over
the note, "you are right; it is a party; and we are both asked; but I
wonder, above all things, that Miss Fletcher should never cross her t's;
then the tails of her letters are so long that they go into the line
below them, which looks so slovenly, and shows that her writing must
have bean very much neglected. I also know another fair neighbor of ours
who actually puts 'for' before the infinitive mood, and flourishes her
large letters like copperplate capitals that are only fit to appear in a
merchant's books."

"But you know, my dear," said her husband, "that she is a grocer's
widow, and, it is said, used to keep his accounts."

"That is very obvious, my dear; for, indeed, most of her invitations to
tea are more like bills duly furnished than anything else. I remember
one of them that ran to the following effect:

"'Mrs. Allspice presents compliments to Messrs. Mainwaring &, Co.--to
wit, Miss Norton '--this was my daughter--' begs to be favored, per
return of post, as to whether it will suit convenience for to come
on next Tuesday evening, half-past seven, to take a cup of the best
flavored souchong, 7s. 6d. per lb., and white lump, Jamaica, Is. per
ditto, with a nice assortment of cakes, manufactured by ourselves.
Punctuality to appointment expected.'"

"Well, for my part," said Sam, "I must say it's the entertainment I'd
look to both with her and the parson, and neither the language nor the
writing. Mrs. Mainwaring, will you allow me to propose a toast ma'am?
It's for a fine creature, in her way; a lily, a jewel."

"With pleasure, Mr. Roberts," said that lady, smiling, for she knew old
Sam must always have his own way.

"Well, then, fill, fill, each of you. Come, Miss Gourlay, if only for
the novelty of the thing; for I dare say you never drank a toast before.
Ned, fill for her. You're an excellent woman, Mrs. Mainwaring: and
he was a lucky old boy that got you to smooth down the close of his
respectable and useful life--at least, it was once useful--but we can't
be useful always--well, of his harmless life--ay, that is nearer the
thing. Yes, Mrs. Mainwaring, by all accounts you are a most excellent
and invaluable woman, and deserve all honor."

Mrs. Mainwaring sat with a comely simper upon her good-natured face,
looking down with a peculiar and modest appreciation of