first-floor, the same that was occupied
by the royal cousin of an illustrious
personage, for whom there was no room at
any of the palaces, and who was, therefore,
boarded out. For this Starridge
charged fifteen guineas a week—and cheap,
too, as it was the height of the season.
There they first heard Mr. Morrison's
wonderful tidings.

"The fool," said Mrs. Leader, "the weak
creature! His head must be going. I didn't
think he'd be so childish."

"It's an infatuation. They have quite
got round him, and he is in terror of his
life of that Doctor."

"Low quack—free and familiar, too!
We'll dispose of him. It's only a fancy."

"It's more," said her brother; "he's
quite blinded by them."

"I didn't think there was so much good
in him, to tell you the truth. I remember
them now. Beautiful girls! Which of
them is it, Randall?" said Mr. Leader.

"Oh, that Polly !" said he, impatiently.
"People of this class always make
themselves up to take in young officers. Now,
I see how it will be. We'll have no end of
trouble getting this whim out of his head."

"But if he likes her, mamma?" pleaded
the recovered daughter.

"That's not our concern," said Mrs.
Leader. "But it's nothing—these country-
town adventurers go to desperate lengths
to secure any young man of fortune. It
means nothing, and they know it well.
They are used to it. Wait until we get
down, and you'll see how they will shrink
away."

"Yes," said her brother, reflectively.
"But, in the mean time, I assure you, we
don't know what may happen. That Doctor
would stick at nothing; and once they hear
you are arrived——"

"Well, then, we shall go down at once.
Where does he live?"

"Next door to this old schemer."

Mr. Leader laughed.

"Good gracious!" said Mrs. Leader,
with disgust. "What bold creatures they
are! I took their measure that day we
saw them at the church. Mere flaunting
adventuresses! Who are they, where do
they come from?"

"I hope to make out about them before
long. I know there is something shady
about him."

"My dear Randall, I tell you it's what
these people are well accustomed to; Cecil
daren't think more of them. And if he
likes to amuse himself with them he is
welcome, and it will be some practice for
him."

Mrs. Leader was rather thoughtful that
night, and spoke differently to her
husband, who said, in his homely way, that,
for his part, he would like to see Cecil
married to "a good, steady, sensible girl
that would make him happy." A sentiment
which threw Mrs. Leader—considered
among her friends to be so sweet—into one
of those furies to which she was sometimes
subject, and during which the august head
of the Leader house was buffeted about,
morally speaking, in the most contemptible
fashion. On such paroxysms, the whole
house was affected, the servants even
dreaded them, and contributed to allay
them. Her present anger was increased
by the crowd of bills, which quite took the
bulk of a special post, and by the necessity
for getting money.

However, other matters now got on
more successfully. Desperate pressure had
been laid on the good-natured General
Fountain to secure an introduction to the
Countess of Seaman, and though he
wondered a little at this ardour, he at last
succeeded in getting some cards left at
Starridge's.

Lady Seaman, with all her fashion, was
not at all indisposed to know a certain
class of people, after a certain class of way,
if the latter were content to accept such
patronage. Just as she would have liked
a bank with plenty of money lying ready
at her call: so she always liked having a
good store of convenient people, rich, but
lower in degree, on whom she might draw
for hospitality, country air, obsequiousness,
presents, and goods of various kinds.
Therefore, when she heard of these people,
and all about them, and received a hint
from the general as to the little
matrimonial plan he had in view, she assented
to the introduction. Thenceforward Mrs.
Leader revelled in self-abasement, and
worship, and attentions of all kind; and a
bazaar then, almost providentially, coming
on, she was enabled to expend this homage
in such a lavish and magnificent way, as
fairly to dazzle the great lady. If Mrs.
Leader were called on to estimate in money
the cost of that introduction, it could not
have been set down at less than one
hundred pounds. But she gained this further
honour also. The countess even consented
to come down and visit Leadersfort.

Such being the programme, we now
return to the little town, where the Doctor
came home one night in his worst humour,