essie's peace of mind had she
heard of it during her absence from home. But Thaddeus never told
her, until it was a matter of ancient history, that when he arrived
at home, a little after midnight, he found the place deserted, and
was compelled to usher his friend in through the parlor window; that
from top to bottom the mansion gave evidence of not having seen a
broom or a dust-brush since the departure of the family; that Jane
had not been seen in the neighborhood for one full week--this came
from those living on adjoining property; that Ellen had been absent
since early that morning, and was not expected to return for three
days; and, crowning act of infamy, that he, Thaddeus, and his friend
were compelled to breakfast next morning upon a half of a custard
pie, a bit mouldy, found by the lord of the manor on the fast-
melting remains of a cake of ice in the refrigerator. Whether it
would have happened if Thaddeus had not been accompanied by a
friend, whose laughter incited him to great deeds, or not I am not
prepared to say, but something important did happen. Thaddeus rose
to the occasion, and committed an act, and committed it thoroughly.
The Thaddeus of old, the meek, long-suffering, too amiable Thaddeus,
disappeared. The famous smile was given no chance to play. His
wife was absent, and the smile was far away with her. Thaddeus,
with one fell blow, burst his fetters and became free.

That afternoon, when he had returned to the seaboard, Bessie asked
him, "How was the house?"

"Beautiful," said Thaddeus, quite truthfully; for it was.

"Did Ellen say anything about the hamper?"

"Not a word."

"Did you speak to her about it?"

"Nope."

"Oh, Teddy! How could you forget it?"

To the lasting honor of Thaddeus be it said that he bore up under
this unflinchingly.

"Did you have a good breakfast, Ted?" Bessie asked, returning to the
subject later.

"Very," said Thaddeus, thinking of the hearty meal he and his
fellow-sufferer had eaten at the club after getting back to town.
"We had a tomato omelet, coffee, toast, rice cakes, tenderloin
steak, and grits."

"Dear me!" smiled Bessie; she was so glad her Teddy had been so well
treated. "All that? Ellen must have laid herself out."

"Yes," said Thaddeus; "I think she did."

All the following week Thaddeus seemed to have a load on his mind--a
load which he resolutely refused to share with his wife--and on
Friday he found it necessary to go up to t