"I never bet, Mr. Mould, and it would seem heartless to make a bet on such a subject. But no doubt you see more of the ins and outs of life than I do. Tell me what makes you so ready to offer such a bet?" "Well, you see it's this way. I was on duty at the funeral, and as Lady B. was chief mourner, and rode next to the hearse, I was holding the door of the first mourning coach for her, when Sir George D., he stepped forward and offered her his arm, and I heard him say to her, ' Oh, Lady B.' he says, ' if only I dared to hope.' ' Hush,' says she quick like, ' not to-day of all days, dear Sir George, but I shall be at home and all alone to-morrow afternoon,' says she, and she gives him one look, and got into the mourning coach, and. I shut the door and stepped up by the driver." "Mr. Mould, Mr. Mould," said I, "this is truly shocking. Who is Sir George D.?" "Don't you know Sir George D., sir? You must be quite a stranger in these parts not to know Sir George D. Why, sir, he is an old soldier from Hindia, who has been as good as dead twice since he came back, and twice he's been and disappointed me; but I'll bet a pair of black gloves I'll have him yet, sir, before I give up my business. His house adjoins Lady B.'s at the end of the Park, and ought, by rights, to belong to it, as I have heard Lady B. say in her soft way before now, and he has .£50,000 in consols atop of that, and that's what she's after or my name is not Mould." "Mr. Mould, Mr. Mould," said I, "this is really scandalous. Do you mean to tell me that any lady, so soon after her bereave ment—" "You're but a very young man yet, sir; I could tell you something that would make you open your eyes a good deal wider still, sir." "Well, Mr. Mould, after what you have already told me, I do not think any thing could shock me; but pray go on, un less it is anything I ought not to hear."
"Oh, no, sir, there's no harm in it, when once you gets to know what widows really is, sir, you won't be shocked at nothing, sir. Well sir, after the funeral, as we was leaving the corpse in his last resting place, and I was walking before her to lead the way back to the first mourning coach, who should come up to her but Captain P." "Who is Captain P., Mr. Mould?" "Why, sir, you must be a stranger to Berkshire not to know Captain P. He be the handsomest, go-a-headest young man in the whole county, and lots of money he has, too, sir. Says Capt. P. to Lady В., for I was all ears for to hear what they was saying, 'Oh, Lady B.,' says he quite soft like, 'if only I dared to hope.' That's what he said, sir, same as Sir George. I suppose it is the right way of putting it in the upper circles of society; perhaps you knows, sir." "No, really, Mr. Mould, I cannot say I do; but what answer did Lady B. give him? You won't mind telling me, I dare say." "' Hush,' says she, quick like, same as be fore, 'not to-day of all days, Capt. P.; be sides—besides— I have already promised Sir George, and he must come first you see—but, I think, perhaps, Capt. P., in five years' time, or perhaps in three, if you do not mind wait ing that time for me,' says she; and with that he bows very low, and hands her into the carriage, and I shut the door, and went backintohis like seelast theresting corpse place." made all comfortable" Mr. Mould, Mr. Mould, I cannot bear anymore. Ah, here comes the train! I must try to forget all you've told me. Good night." "Good night to you, sir. Lord bless you, sir, when you're as old as I am, you'll know what widows is, sir." Ten years later on I met my old chief in Lincolns Inn, and ventured to ask him if Lady B. was still lady of the manor, and he the steward. "I am still the steward, but Lady B. is now Mrs. P., the wife of Major P.; he was
