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ETHEL CHURCHILL.
247

game. He gave a very amusing account of his journey from Ireland; how he was not only stopped at the "Three Crosses," by a shrew of a landlady, but scolded into the bargain. His revenge was most characteristic. "Most people," said he to the landlord, "are content or discontent with paying their bill. I do more: I leave you, as a legacy, an invaluable piece of advice," pointing to some lines that he had written, with a diamond ring, on the window pane,—

"There are three crosses to your door,
Hang up your wife, and there'll be four."

As the evening closed in, I was struck with the gloom which seemed to fall upon him. His face lost its intellectual animation—it was almost stupid; and I never before saw blank despondency so expressed in human eye. Even now I try to shake off the painful impression. But I must leave the remainder of the dinner till to-morrow, trusting that you will not say,

"Un diner rechauffé ne valut jamais rien."

We are going to play loo at Mrs. Howard's;