and tame a few tigers and hyenas for
exhibition, as trust himself once more to the tender mercies of people
who _detected and laughed at him_. If he prays (which is doubtful) he
prays first to be delivered from the wiles and machinations of a demon
in petticoats named Joe Harris. He does not wear shoulder-straps or a
blue uniform. He has not been drafted, and probably will not be, even in
the new eight-hundred-thousand levy. He is said to be still speculating,
and making money; and there have been rumors that he is looking for a
"job" in the operations of the Harbor-Defence Commissioners of the City
of New York.[18] But as those Commissioners are well known to be beyond
the reach of those evil influences which have made other operations of
the war a little costly beyond their return,--he cannot do otherwise
than fail in this instance.

[Footnote 18: March 21, 1863.]

Frank Wallace has not been banished the house of Judge Owen, since that
memorable night of July. He visits it, even takes Emily to the theatres,
and is neither insulted nor interrupted. It is supposed that the Judge
did not rule him out of the house, because he believed it to be of no
use, holding that a man who had begun to come in disguise might continue
the game if not allowed to come openly, and that to keep him out he
would be obliged to remain at home all the time himself, and keep a
sharp eye on the supposed milkman, the baker, the butcher, and even the
man who carried in the coal.

It may be that after this lapse of time, the Judge even tolerates the
scapegrace. Emily does, it is very evident, and as she has never since
swerved in her warm friendship with the wild girl who arranged the
masquerade, she is not at all likely to recede from her old position or
to marry otherwise than as she pleases. The Judge had better reconsider
his old decision, gracefully, for he is certainly overruled by that
"full bench" consisting of Emily herself (Mrs. Owen reserving her
opinion), Josephine Harris and Aunt Martha; and Frank Wallace will "take
judgment" some day before he is aware of it, in the shape of pretty
Emily Owen!

* * * * *

This is not a clergyman's or a county clerk's record of marriages, and
it is a matter of regret that we cannot carry out the system inaugurated
by Southworth and followed by Wood, of marrying off all the couples at
the close of the relation, even down to the footman and the
kitchen-girl. If we put