im," said Bella.

"If I don't make too bould,--if it's not too free of me,--maybe you 'd
excuse the liberty I 'm taking," said a man, holding the door slightly
open, and projecting a round bullet head and a very red face into the
room.

"Oh, Mr. Driscoll," cried Bella. "Mrs. Hawkshaw's brother, papa,"
whispered she, quietly, to her father, who, notwithstanding the
announcement, made no sign.

"If Captain Kellett would pardon my intrusion," said Driscoll, entering
with a most submissive air, "he'd soon see that it was at laste with
good intentions I came out all the way here on foot, and a bad night
besides,--a nasty little drizzling rain and mud,--such mud!" And he held
up in evidence a foot about the size of an elephant's.

"Pray sit down, Mr. Driscoll," said Bella, placing a chair for him.
"Papa was engaged with matters of business when you knocked,--some
letters of consequence."

"Yes, miss, to be sure, and did n't want to be disturbed," said
Driscoll, as he sat down, and wiped his heated forehead. "I 'm often the
same way myself; but when I 'm at home, and want nobody to disturb me, I
put on a little brown-paper cap I have, and that's the sign no one's to
talk to me."

Kellett burst into a laugh at the conceit, and Driscoll so artfully
joined in the emotion that when it ceased they were already on terms of
intimacy.

"You see what a strange crayture I am. God help me!" said Driscoll,
sighing. "I have to try as many dodges with myself as others does be
using with the world, for my poor head goes wanderin' away about this,
that, and the other, and I 'm never sure it will think of what I want."

"That's a sad case," said Kellett, compassionately.

"I was like everybody else tell I had the fever," continued Driscoll,
confidentially. "It was the spotted fever, not the scarlet fever, d' ye
mind; and when I came out of it on the twenty-ninth day, I was the same
as a child, simple and innocent You 'd laugh now if I told you what I
did with the first half-crown I got. I bought a bag of marbles!"

And Kellett did laugh heartily; less, perhaps, at the circumstance than
at the manner and look of him who told it.

"Ay, faith, marbles!" muttered Driscoll to himself; "'tis a game I'm
mighty fond of."

"Will you take a little whiskey-and-water? Hot or cold?" asked Kellett,
courteously.

"Just a taste, to take off the deadness of the water," said Driscoll. "I
'm obleeged to be as cautious as if I was walkin' on eggs