umor reached him of a second
marriage, but he never heard the name of the man she married in either
case. My father lately died; but before his death he advised me to seek
this aunt, if possible, since she was my only living near relation; and
he told me that he had heard of her living in this court many years ago.
So I have come here with faint hope of tracing her."

Mr. Manlius listened attentively to this explanation; and then
solemnly walking to the door, he called in a deep voice, as if
he would have the summons start from the very bottom of the house for
thoroughness,--"Caroline!"

The call was answered immediately by the appearance of Mrs. Manlius, in
a red dress, that put everything else in the room in the background.

"Caroline," said he, more impressively than would seem necessary, and
pointing to Nicholas, "this is Mr. Nicholas Judge. Mr. Judge, you see my
wife."

"But, my dear," said Mrs. Manlius, nervously, as soon as she had bowed,
discovering the feeble lamp, which was saving its light by burning very
dimly, "that lamp will be off the what-not in a moment. How could you
put it right on the edge?" And she took it down from its pinnacle, and
placed it firmly on the middle of a table, at a distance from anything
inflammable. "Mr. Manlius is so absent-minded, Sir," said she, turning
to Nicholas.

"Caroline," said her husband, "this will be a memorable day in the
history of our family. Eunice has found a dear sister's son."

"Where?" she asked, turning for explanation to Nicholas, who at Mr.
Manlius's words felt his heart beat quicker.

Then Mr. Manlius, in as few words as his dignity and the occasion would
deem suitable, stated the case to his wife, who looked admiringly upon
Mr. Manlius's oratory, and interestingly upon Nicholas.

"Shall I call Eunice down, S'prian?" said she, when her husband
concluded, and conveying some mysterious information to him by means of
private signals.

"We have here," said Mr. Manlius, now turning the hose of his eloquence
toward Nicholas, and playing upon him, "we have here a dear friend, who
has abode in our house for many years. She came to us when she was in
trouble, and here has she found a resting-place for the soles of her
feet. Sir," with a darksome glance, "her relations had forgotten her."

"I must say"----interrupted Nicholas; but Mr. Manlius waved him back,
and continued:--

"But she found true kinsfolk in the friends of her early days. We have
cared fo