that there were some few
persons who were not fully satisfied with the manner of conducting the
inquiry, but that the general effect had been favorable to Pattmore;
that the latter had began to drink a great deal, though not enough to
become intoxicated; that he, (Miller,) had been taken into Pattmore's
confidence to a considerable extent; and that the latter had expressed
an intention of going to Cincinnati to make a visit. In conclusion, he
said that Pattmore was doing his utmost to appear cheerful, but that he
looked very haggard, and seemed to be in great trouble.

Miss Seaton reported to Mrs. Warne the same day, that she was becoming
more intimate with Mrs. Thayer, though the latter manifested no desire
to take any one into her confidence. The day previous Mrs. Thayer had
gone to the post-office, where she had received a letter, as usual. She
had torn it open, as if very anxious to learn the news it contained for
her, and had then crumpled it nervously in her hand, after reading it.

Miss Seaton also described a scene which had taken place that morning.
Mrs. Thayer was in her room about eleven o'clock; soon afterward Miss
Seaton went to the door and knocked. No answer being given, she went in
quietly, intending to surprise Mrs. Thayer. She found the latter deeply
absorbed in telling her own fortune with a pack of cards. Miss Seaton
laughed pleasantly, and said:

"So you were telling your fortune, were you? Well, how did it come out?"

Mrs. Thayer looked somewhat confused at first, but she gathered up the
cards mechanically, and said:

"I don't know how to tell my fortune; do you?"

"Yes, indeed, I used to be a splendid fortune-teller," replied Miss
Seaton. "Let me try to tell your fortune."

She then shuffled the cards, dealt them in three piles, and turned up
the last card, which happened to be the queen of hearts.

"Now let us see what your fortune _has_ been, what it _is_, and what it
_will_ be," said Miss Seaton. "You are represented by the queen of
hearts; this pile contains your past; that one your present; and the
third your future."

So saying, she turned up the top card of each pile. By an odd
coincidence the present and future were both clubs, the past being a
diamond.

Miss Seaton said, gravely:

"Your past has been pleasant, but your future is unpromising."

"Yes, it is always so," replied Mrs. Thayer, despondently.

Then, as Miss Seaton was about to go on, Mrs. Thayer threw all the cards