wish to
remove for change of air to some quiet nook until health--which, indeed,
is the chiefest of temporal blessings, might be recovered."

"Man or woman?"

"A serious young woman, Poll."

"I see, I see, Mr. M'Slime; I know nothing more about it."

"Poll, listen--I shall no longer withhold confidence from you in
this matter--unfortunately a member, indeed, I may say, two of our
congregation have had a woeful fall. He ranks very high in it, and this
is an act of the greater Christian friendship in me, inasmuch as in
undertaking the management of this for him, I certainly run great risks
of suffering in my own reputation. I cannot name him, for that would
be a breach of confidence in me, but you are called upon to perform the
duty required, and through me he shall compensate you for your trouble."

"Very well," replied Poll, "it must be done--and I can tell him whoever
he is, that he could not come to any one that understands such matters
betther."

"Good morning, Poll! Let me hear from you as soon as you can. Peace be
with thee! but Poll, remember one thing, Harman and the M'Loughlins are
going to America." Poll nodded significantly, but made no reply.

The moment she had gone, which she did by the aid of Solomon himself,
who opened and closed the hall door after her, with a quietness of
manner that seemed to communicate oil to the hinges themselves, he
touched the bell, and in due time Susanna looked in.

"You rang, sir," said she.

"That arrangement is made;" said he, "so far all is well, or nearly
so--go now." Susanna immediately withdrew, the few words he said seeming
to have diffused sunshine into a face which appeared doubly serious.

When she was gone, Solomon laid his head down upon the desk before him,
and remained in that position for some time. At length without at all
raising it he began to play his knuckles against the lid, with a
degree of alacrity which would not have disgraced the activity of a
sleight-of-hand man. He at last rose, drew a long breath, and wore a
very smiling face; but this was not all--O sanctity! O religion! Instead
of going to his Bible, as one would imagine he ought to have done,
instead of even taking up a psalm-book, and indulging in a spiritual
song, he absolutely commenced whistling the Swaggering Jig, which he
accompanied with as nimble a foot, and in as good time as if he had been
a dancing-master all his life.

"Ah," said he, "I could have done it once, and would