soul, he pitied in the yoke with that poor
quishkeen of a wife—-what was a quishkeen?
—-who, so far from being able to say
"bo" to such a respectable bird as a goose,
could not even say " whish to a midge."
Captain Montague, the dilettante officer,
still patronised Polly, and came to lend her
books of poetry, which she never read with
the appreciation expected, though it is to
be feared the not too stretched code of
truth in which the Doctor had reared his
family, caused Polly to affect a greater
acquaintance with the works in question
than she had really made.

"I declare, Peter," said the lively girl,
"he's not like a man at all; more like a
schoolmaster setting lessons. Sure, look
what he's brought me to write out in my
extract-book. How can I be wasting my
time on such things? I've no extract- book.
Did you. ever hear the likes of this, Peter?"
And the young lady read, with a good
imitation, too, of the rather clerical manner of
Mr. Montague:

       —- O that deep immeasurable,
   The broad human heart, in which I long
   To lave my weary pinions! There unsteady
   Ripples mine image till, at last resolved,
   In some fair mirror I can see myself.

Polly burst into a scream of laughter as
she finished. " Did you ever hear the like,
Peter?"

"A bathing-machine would be the thing
for that fellow," said her father, smiling.
"But, my dear, there's a little blank
prescript book of mine below which you can
have. The virgin page has never yet been
defiled with ink, so copy it out in your
daintiest pothooks. Not that I think our
friend will prove arable pasture. Deuce a
blade of grass I'll ever raise off him. Lord
forgive him for all my wasted dinners,
which he'll have to account for one day!"

It was just at this time that the Doctor
went away on his " errand of mercy," as
he called it, and returned triumphant with
his son-in-law and his daughter. That was
something to talk of, and, indeed, it made
a sensation in the place.

"By Jove, sir, you ought to be sent as
ambassador to Paris," said the honest
Bouchier, wringing him cordially by the
hand; " you are the cleverest fellow I ever
met. Taken the place by assault; lodged
yourself in the Fort. You'll have them all
at your feet yet."

These compliments the Doctor modestly
disclaimed. Every one in the place was
talking of it; for the hostility of the great
family had become well known, as well as
the purpose Mrs. Leader had in view. This
seemed a masterly coup; for it was felt,
that once established in possession, the
Doctor's daughter could not be turned out
with decency. The Doctor's persistent
enemy, Mr. Ridley, alone sneered and
talked of trickery, and said there was some
scheming on foot; mark his words if something
did not come out, and that before
long too. If he was to spend every shilling
he would expose the scoundrel yet. It was
disgraceful to have such a fellow in the
parish as one of their salaried officials.
The Doctor had grown quite accustomed
to these denunciations, for they were, of
course, duly repeated to him, and said that
" he could afford to smile at old Ridley's
wool-gatherings." But it was noticed that
he was always deprecating, and even
obsequious to that gentleman, who scarcely
condescended to notice him.

CHAPTER XIII.   A FRESH ATTACK.

IT was now the morning after the arrival
of the Leader family that a servant of
the mansion came into the town, and was
seen going to the Doctor's house. The
Doctor was in his study enjoying one of
th' 'avanahs; with Polly prattling away
over her conquests, and rehearsing how
capitally she "put down that odious Molyneux."
It was then that the Doctor's
man—for he had lately brought over a
man who had been with him before in one
of those strange adventures through which
the Doctor had passed—entered with the
letter from the Fort. The Doctor looked at
the writing, threw the end of his cigar into
the grate, and flourished the letter over his
head.

"What did I tell you, girl?" he cried;
"trust Peter for the science of manipulating!"
Old yellow skin yonder has hauled
down her colours. "What did I tell you?
Nothing like the waiting game!"

Polly, excited, drew near to look over
her father's shoulder, and read:

MRS. LEADER presents her compliments to
Doctor Findlater, and desires that he will
not continue his further attendance on
Mr. Cecil Leader, as she has made arrangements
to secure another medical adviser.
She must also request that Doctor Findlater
will, in future, dispense with any visits to
Leadersfort, for reasons which Doctor
Findlater will understand. Mr. Cecil Leader
and his wife may, of course, remain for the
present, but Doctor Findlater will spare