training as naturally as a young miss into dressing
her doll. Nobody dissuades, nobody
encourages."

"When do you expect this man?" I said,
shuddering.

"At any moment. And I am sure I may
rely upon you, my dear Cecilia, to receive him
with as much affability as your not unnatural
dislike to his profession will allow."

I assured John that it would not be for the
horrid person's own sake that I consented to
receive him at all, but solely for that of the
poor young creature by whom he would be
accompanied. In him I already felt an uncommon
interest. I pictured to myself the pretty (I
was sure he was pretty), fair-complexioned boy,
with golden curls, clinging like a tender parasite
to an old gnarled oak—gentle object of
those caresses, that affection, which the rough
giant, his singularly-chosen protector, lavished
upon him, alone of all the world! I wondered
what was the youth's name. I asked to be told
his story.

"It is a melancholy narrative, my dear," said
John; " but, since you insist upon it, know that
this lad's papa was carried off, one morning, by
a complaint in the throat, with such fatal
suddenness, that the suspense, altogether, lasted
but one hour. His mamma, having, I regret to
say, a taste for strong waters, was offered a
situation as workhouse nurse, but (in spite of
the qualification I have mentioned) proving
neither savage nor decrepid enough for that
office, was quickly turned into the streets, where
she was found lifeless beside a pump, having
drunk from it in her despair. Mr. Brooser,
noble-hearted fellow! saw and loved the boy.
They are inseparable, at least—hm—for the
present."

It was, indeed, as my husband had observed,
a truly pitiful tale. John saw that I was moved,
and, probably thinking it a good moment to
leave me to my reflections, kissed me, and went
out for a ride.

If the boy could only come without Brooser!
But that might scarcely be. John said they
were inseparable. After all, the man might not
be so very rough! I heard the tramp of John's
horse in the carriage-sweep. He would be back
in a couple of hours, and it was the most
unlikely thing in the world that Broosy-poosy
should come as soon as that. I found myself
talking aloud, and addressing my darling, whom
nurse had quietly brought in.

Nurse had been dismissed to her dinner, and I
was attempting to give Tiddlepops his first lesson
in writing (it was a kind of messy thing, that
hit his fancy exactly), when Benjamin entered
and announced—

"Please, 'm, a person."

"Who is it?"

"Please, 'm, he wouldn't give no name. I told
him master was out; but he said the 'missis'
would do. I was to say ' that party, ' and you
would be fly."

"D—do you think, Benjamin, he would like
to call again?"

"Please, 'm, I wouldn't like to ask him. He's
a settin' in the 'all."

"Does he want your master very particularly?"

"Yes, he do, 'm, very. He were to have
gone to Captain Bishopses; but that gentleman's
out a otter hunting; and the person he don't
know where to take that other party which is ill.
He wants some medicual advice, the person do,
for the party; and likewise a mug of beer for the
person himself."

After all, perhaps he was a kind-hearted
monster— an honest, right-minded ruffian. Could
I consign such a man to the kitchen?

"I hope not, 'm," said Benjamin, who caught
the last word, half uttered, in my bewilderment.

"Well, then, the housekeeper's room?"

"How'll Harriet like it?" said Benjamin,
gloomily.

Something had to be done. The creature might
be already exasperated at the delay. Then
there was the Novice to be considered. The
child might be seriously ill, and no " medicual"
advice, but John's, was at hand. I resolved to
make the effort, and, drawing Popsy closer to
me, desired Benjamin to show the stranger in.

There was a step in the passage that made the
house sensibly vibrate. The door opened.

"Mr. Brooser," said Benjamin, faintly.

Thereupon, entered an individual whose
stature I should rather under-estimate at six
feet five. He had a large level countenance,
like a teaboard: the original flatness of his nose
not having (contrary to John's theory)
preserved it from a further depression, the result
of one of his many battles. The lower jaw was
of enormous size. His hair was cut very close,
as if he had just come out of prison.

"Servant, 'm," said Mr. Brooser, bowing,
and closing the door, with one and the same
curvature of his gigantic frame.

"G—good morning, Mr. Brooser. Pray take
a chair. I am sorry to say that my husband is
from home, but I hope you will await his return.
He cannot be very long."

"Thankee, mum," replied Mr. Brooser;
"sorry to ill-conwenience. Fact is, I don't
know what to do about that other party
what we knows on. I'm in a regular fix, I
am."

"What party, Mr. Brooser?"

"Why, that 'ere Novice o' hourn. What
else coold I be a thinking on?" said Mr. Brooser,
with some severity.

"True, very true!" I exclaimed. " That is
the very person of whom I am so anxious to
hear the most minute particulars."

"Nat'rally," rejoined my visitor. "You must
know, then, that his inside—"

"I beg your pardon, sir; for the medical part
of the story, I think my husband—"

"Oh, 'tain't nothing particular, only you
wanted for to know everything about him;
consequently, as his insi—"

"Mr. Brooser, may I not offer you some
refreshment?"