"

"I should think he is! A great political swell, too, a something in the
Admiralty, or the Colonies, or wherever it is."

"Well, just take Clara, and she 'll find out May for you, and send your
travelling-companion into the garden here. I'll do the honors to him
till lunch-time." And Mrs. Morris now turned into a shady walk, to
think over what topics she should start for the amusement of the great
official from Downing Street.

If we were going to tell tales of her,--which we are not,--we might
reveal how it happened that she had seen a good deal of such sort of
people, at one era of her life, living in a Blue-Book atmosphere, and
hearing much out of "Hansard." We merely mention the fact; as to the
how, it is not necessary to refer to it. Not more are we bound to say
why she did not retain for such high company what, in French, is called
"the most distinguished consideration,"--why, on the contrary, she
thought and pronounced them the most insupportable of all bores. Our
readers cannot fail to have remarked and appreciated the delicate
reserve we have unvaryingly observed towards this lady,--a respectful
courtesy that no amount of our curiosity could endanger. Now, "charming
women," of whom Mrs. M. was certainly one, have a great fondness for
little occasional displays of their fascinations upon strangers. Whether
it is that they are susceptible of those emotions of vanity that sway
smaller natures, or whether it be merely to keep their fascinations from
rusting by want of exercise, is hard to say; but so is the fact, and
the enjoyment is all the higher when, by any knowledge of a speciality,
they can astonish their chance acquaintance. For what Lord Agincourt had
irreverently styled the "great political swell," she therefore prepared
herself with such memories as some years of life had stored for her.
"He'll wonder," thought she, "where I came by all my Downing Street
slang. I 'll certainly puzzle him with my cant of office." And so
thinking, she walked briskly along in the clear frosty air over
the crisped leaves that strewed the walk, till she beheld a person
approaching from the extreme end of the alley.

The distance between them was yet considerable, and yet how was it that
she seemed to falter in her steps, and suddenly, clasping her heart
with both hands, appeared seized with a sort of convulsion? At the same
instant she threw a terrified glance on every side, and looked like one
prepared for sudden flight