orhood, to visit an aunt, or a cousin, or a grandmother,--if she
likes,--a certain Mrs. Maxwell of Tilney, who has lots of cash, and no
one to leave it to,--five thousand a year in estate; I don't know what
in the Threes; and is, they tell me, weighing all her relatives, real or
imaginary, in the balance of her esteem, to decide who is to be the Lord
of Tilney, and which of us would most worthily represent her name and
house. Preaching for a call is nothing to this; and a C. S. examination
is cakes and gingerbread to it Just fancy a grand competitive dinner of
both sexes, and the old lady watching who ate of her favorite dish, or
who passed the decanter she "affectioned." Imagine yourself talking,
moving, sneezing, smiling, or blowing your nose, with five thousand a
year on the issue. Picture to your mind the tortures of a scrutiny that
may take in anything, from your complexion to your character, and which,
though satisfied with your morals, might discover "something unpleasing
about your mouth."

"'Worst news of all, I hear that the great Norman Maitland is somewhere
in your vicinity, and, of course, will be invited wherever anything is
going on. If he cares to do it, I suppose he 'll cut us all out, and
that the old lady would rather fancy she made a graceful exit from life
if this illustrious swell were to play chief mourner to her. By the way,
do you know the man I 'm talking of? He's a monstrous clever fellow, and
a great mystery to boot. I know him very slightly; indeed, so slightly
that I'm not sure he knows_ me_.

"'As it would be invaluable to me to have a word of counsel from you,
knowing nothing, or next to nothing, of my dear relative, I mean to
start directly for you at once, and have one day with you before I go on
to Tilney. Will this bore you, or inconvenience you? Is your house full?
Most houses are at this time o' year.'"

At this Tony laid down the letter and laughed immoderately; not so,
however, his mother. She turned her head away, and sat, with her hands
closely locked, in silence.

"Is n't it good,--is n't it downright droll, mother, to ask if our house
be so full of guests we have no room for another? I declare, though it
has a sore side to it, the question overcomes me with its absurdity."

"That's not the way I 'm looking at it, Tony," said she, sadly.

"But there's no other way to look at it. If one can't take that view of
it, one would--" He stopped suddenly, for he saw the old lady li