aughing.

A servant now came out upon the lawn to say tea had been waiting some
time. The youths and their tutor hastened to the drawing-room, when
William and his brother were congratulated on the fortunate issue of
their rencounter with the tiger. Their gentle mother shed a tear of joy
as she kissed the cheek of each darling child, and the dowager expressed
herself happy at seeing they had proved themselves worthy descendants of
the Clairmonts.

'Emily,' said she to her grand-daughter in the joy of her heart, 'what
do you think of your brothers now? Do you not think they will indeed
prove an honour to the family, and realize in their manhood all the
anticipations of youth? For my part, I feel so much obliged to our
grand-dame Cicely Dewberry at the present moment, that I can hardly find
words to express myself in due terms; that task I shall, therefore,
leave to you.'

Emily coloured at this remark, but, after a pause, replied:

'I am so much pleased that my brothers have acquitted themselves with
honour that I am equally at a loss for words with your ladyship.'

The evening passed most agreeably, and the conversation was animated and
interesting from the topics the occurrences of the day gave birth to. As
for Lady Clairmont, she was, indeed, greatly pleased with the present of
her new hearthrug, and Sir William ordered the body of the tiger to be
deposited under the oak in which the servants had found shelter, saying
that, some time or other, he might probably put down on that spot some
solid memento of the event.

FOOTNOTES:

[B] The nest of a bird found in the southern latitudes, considered a
delicacy by the natives, particularly by European epicures.

The Butcher's Tournament

Marmaduke Mumbles was the son of a worthy butcher in the village town of
Scrambles.

He was an only son, and as such, of course, petted by his father and
spoiled by his mother.

Mrs. Mumbles had been in early life a lady's-maid, and, while in her
waiting upon the Honourable Miss Languish, was employed not so much in
millinery as novel reading, which she used to read to her young lady
from morning till night, and from night till morning.

The tales which took the fancy of the Honourable Miss Languish, and
which were echoed from the mouth and mind of Miss Squeamish were those
of 'high romance,' as it is termed. Young, handsome, virtuous, and
valiant heroes going through more wonderful adventures than our poor
Mosette in