ce of the meal.

Napkins had not been the sole reform suggested by the Greek cousin. She had
introduced flowers on the table, and so artfully had she decked out the
board with fruit and ornamental plants, that she had succeeded in effecting
by artifice what would have been an egregious failure if more openly
attempted--the service of the dishes one by one to the guests without any
being placed on the table. These, with finger-glasses, she had already
achieved, nor had she in the recesses of her heart given up the hope of
seeing the day that her uncle would rise from the table as she did, give
her his arm to the drawing-room, and bow profoundly as he left her. Of the
inestimable advantages, social, intellectual, and moral, of this system,
she had indeed been cautious to hold forth; for, like a great reformer,
she was satisfied to leave her improvements to the slow test of time,
'educating her public,' as a great authority has called it, while she bided
the result in patience.

Indeed, as poor Mathew Kearney was not to be indulged with the luxury of
whisky-punch during his dinner, it was not easy to reply to his question,
'When am I to have my tumbler?' as though he evidently believed the
aforesaid 'tumbler' was an institution that could not be abrogated or
omitted altogether.

Coffee in the drawing-room was only a half-success so long as the gentlemen
sat over their wine; and as for the daily cigarette Nina smoked with it,
Kate, in her simplicity, believed it was only done as a sort of protest
at being deserted by those unnatural protectors who preferred poteen to
ladies.

It was therefore in no small perturbation of mind that Kate rushed to
her cousin's room with the awful tidings that Miss Betty had arrived and
intended to remain for dinner.

'Do you mean that odious woman with the boy and band-box behind her on
horseback?' asked Nina superciliously.

'Yes, she always travels in that fashion; she is odd and eccentric in
scores of things, but a fine-hearted, honest woman, generous to the poor,
and true to her friends.'

'I don't care for her moral qualities, but I do bargain for a little
outward decency, and some respect for the world's opinion.'

'You will like her, Nina, when you know her.'

'I shall profit by the warning. I'll take care not to know her.'

'She is one of the oldest, I believe the oldest, friend our family has in
the world.'

'What a sad confession, child; but I have always deplored longev