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addressing the hitherto silent young man, "how comes it, Mr. Ireton, that we have not had one word from you all this time?"
"What do you mean by aprôpos, Sir?" demanded the young man, somewhat piqued.
"Faith, I don't very well know. I am no very good French dictionary. But I always say aprôpos, when I am at a loss how to introduce any thing. Let us hear, however, where you have been passing your thoughts all this time. Are you afraid the sea should be impregnated with informers, instead of salt, and so won't venture to give breath to an idea, lest it should be floated back to Signor Robespierre, and hodgepodged into a conspiracy?"
"Ay, your thoughts, your thoughts! give us your thoughts, Ireton!" cried the young lady, "I am tired to death of my own."
"Why, I have been reflecting, for this last hour or two, what a singular circum-
7
