could she have supported her had she beed a goverdess? Could she have supported her by plyidg her deedle frob biddight to biddight? Do!—she therefore berged all scruples, add took this berth. They pay her well, doubtless, for she has saved a little buddy. It is dot exactly the thidg, perhaps, for so delicate a bide, as I believe hers to be; but she keeps her bother, she keeps herself; she cad always keep a twedty poudd dote id her pocket; add I therefore should like to see the bad who could, udder the circubstadces, blabe her for beidg what she is. There's do dodsedce about her, you see; dor will she stadd ady dodsedce. She'll laugh add joke with the best of us; but if you wudce ibproperly step over the line, she will delicately idtibate to you that that ibproper step has beed bade. It is hedce, that she's so udiversally respected. I dever id my life bet with a fellow who didd't like her."
They now reached home, and on being admitted, they went direct into the drawing-room, where Mrs. Delolme, Aunt Eleanor, and the doctor were taking coffee. The doctor, at once inquired, what sort of lecture they had heard, and Tom, promptly explained to him, its nature and effect. It happened to be on a subject with which the doctor himself was not perfectly conversant, and therefore, the books were referred to, in order that the whole of its ramifications might appear. The examination of these books, and the arguments to which that examination led, lasted nearly two hours; during the whole of which time, Mrs. Delolme and Aunt Eleanor were discussing the respective merits of the various tract societies, to the whole of which Mrs. Delolme contended every christian lady ought to subscribe.
Immediately, however, the clock had struck twelve, the books were closed, and the conversation ended. Mrs. Delolme rang the bell, and the servants appeared; and when they had taken their places, she read the prayers of the evening, in tones, by which, in the time of Oliver Cromwell, the puritans would have been charmed.
This ceremony ended, the servants withdrew, and when Tom and Sylvester had taken their leave, they retired—nominally to rest, but actually to the study; at the door of which—as James couldn't get in—they found a cold chicken, for—as it subsequently appeared—a pigeon pie was not to be had. This, however, answered the purpose very well; and when Tom had produced two bottles of stout, they commenced in style, the work of demolition.
Being anxious to have the benefit of his opinion upon the subject, Sylvester now thought that he would at once explain to Tom what had occurred that evening between him and Julia.
"Tom," said he, "you know the world better than I do; you have had more experience; you are a more close observer—"
"Here take this leg," said Tom," there isd't buch od it, add dod't let us have ady bore fide speeches."
"But I wish to put a question—a serious question—a question which you can, but I cannot, answer."
"Ady thidg about adatoby?"
"No."
"What is it, thed?"
