ottoman. Mrs. Chutney writes to me again
that it is all a mistake, but 'to say nothing
about it, as you know how particular Colonel
Chutney is.' I reply thus," pointing to the
letter still held out by the colonel, who seemed
transfixed.

"Well," said Captain Peake, rubbing his
hands with an air of relief, "I think that is
cleared up."

"But how about this?" said Colonel Chutney,
slowly, and taking up the promissory note.

"Oh!" replied Samperton, in a tone of easy
generosity, "that is easily settled. I could
never think of wounding the feelings of this
young man's charming relatives. The bill I
must have put into the secret drawer when
I exchanged the davenport for another I liked
better. I have told my solicitor to stop
proceedings for the present, and you will pay me
the fifty pounds when convenient. Don't be in
a hurry. Next week will do."

"What!" roared Colonel Chutney, "am I
to be betrayed by my wife" (by this time Deal's
hat had been kicked away from the curtains,
and prompted a new and dreadful suspicion),
"and fleeced by a worthless brother-in-law?"

Here Captain Peake, who had been doing
nothing but whisper very eagerly into Mary
Holden's ear, exclaimed aloud: "Yes, you must,
to oblige me!" Then addressing Sir Frederic:
"Miss Holden desires me to say she will be
most happy to place fifty pounds to your credit
at your banker's to-morrow morning, and so
this unpleasant matter may be closed."

"Miss Holden has suddenly become rich,"
said the colonel, sarcastically.

"You accept my offer?" observed Peake,
earnestly addressing Mary. "It is a mere trifle!
Don't think twice about it."

"I do accept it! and I accept you too, you
dear, kind, generous man," cried Mary, warmly,
passing her arm through his. Captain Peake's
dark eyes blazed out one flash of delight, and
then nodding triumphantly to Sir Frederic,
contented himself with patting the little hand which
lay on his arm.

A shade of disappointment passed over the
baronet's face, but he soon banished it, being
too philosophic not to bow before the Inevitable.
Then, a new light breaking in upon him, as he
observed the tender expression of Peake's
countenance, the generous side of his character broke
out. "My dear Peake!" he exclaimed, "I
cannot allow you to bear all the loss!"

"I do not intend to lose anything," replied
Captain Peake. "The young lubber shall
repay me. I'll put him in the way of doing it,
and repayment shall be the salvation of him."

"I hope, now, all misunderstandings are
cleared up?" said Samperton.

"Not all," answered Mrs. Chutney. "From
the total want of confidence and consideration
Colonel Chutney has shown me, I feel that my
society no longer gives him pleasure." Here
the colonel, not wishing to compromise his wife
before strangers, showed her the rim of Deal's
hat, which he held partially concealed. But
this had no terrors for the speaker, who
continued: "I live in terror of his temper, and in
unsuccessful endeavours to please him. Mary,
I shall leave this house with you."

"Come, Loo!" said the colonel, "these
theatrical airs will not impose on me."

"Let me go in peace," returned Mrs.
Chutney, so resolutely that all were astonished,
and the colonel dropped Deal's hat, and turned
pale. "Keep Wilson," continued Mrs. Chutney,
in the same tone of settled determination;
"she understands a curry, and is tolerably careful.
I shall send to-morrow for my large black
portmanteau and bonnet-box."

At this crisis, Wilson, the page, and housemaid,
who, by some mysterious means, seemed
fully aware of every tittle of what was passing,
entered tumultuously, the women weeping.
"D'ye think, 'm, I'd stay behind with such a
raging lion of a master, without you, 'm?" cried
Wilson. "No! I hereby give notice I leave
this day month."

"And I'd be wore to an atomy in a fortnight
if the mistress wasn't here to soften the 'sperities
of the place," added the page.

"I leaves with Mrs. Wilson," concluded the
housemaid, emphatically.

"Leave? Leave the room this moment!"
cried the colonel, broken down by this unanimous
testimony against him. " But I say,
Loo! this—this is absurd. I—I'm sorry I
vexed you. I—oh! don't leave me—I love
you—by Jove, I am more in love with you than
ever I was."

"What!" asked Mrs. Chutney, "do you
openly entreat me to stay, and promise to put
up with my short-comings, and try to make the
best of me?"

"Yes, stay on any terms; I do ask you. I
won't find fault any more; and nothing that
happens in this house shall put me in a passion
again." Several tender adjurations to his "dear
Loo!" followed, and the colonel finished by
holding out his arms to her.

"You darling old tiger," said his wife, falling
into them. "Have we filed your claws at last?"

Just published, bound in cloth, price 5s. 6d.,

THE THIRTEENTH VOLUME.

NEW WORK BY MR. DICKENS.

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OUR MUTUAL FRIEND,

BY CHARLES DICKENS.

IN TWENTY MONTHLY PARTS.

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