short, there is, a little predilection, in a quarter
that shall be nameless, in favour of a party I
will not mention."

"I have not the slightest doubt of such a
phenomenon existing, my dear," said Mr.
Blackacre, laughing. "But where?"

"Frankly, then—Charley, and—and
ma'amselle."

"Ma'ams——"

"I am certain our boy loves her," continued
his wife, hastily, "but he is so fond of you, dear,
and has such a dread of your disappr——"

"Not another word, my love," said Mr.
Blackacre, kissing her. "Let Charley come
home. We will see."

Mademoiselle Trautchen was sitting in the
schoolroom alone. If she were engaged in
correcting the exercise of her youngest pupil, it
was a curious process enough, for the slate was
covered with large "Charleys," and little else.
A soft tread startled her from her reverie; a soft
matronly arm encircled her neck; and a voice,
soft as either, whispered these two words:

"My daughter!"

Trautchen was weeping in her friend's arms.

There was an alarm-cry that evening. Where
was Little Trout? Dinner, tea, the evening,
passed, without her. All her walking attire—
hat, boots, parasol—the very crimson fillet, that
so rarely left her brow were found in her
apartment. No trace of herself was to be
discovered in the house, and no one had seen her
without. A terrible surmise was started. Was
it impossible that the brave but unfortunate
young lady had encountered the concealed
burglar, who had overpowered, perhaps murdered
her, and dragged the body to his lurking-place?

The searcn, this time, was joined in with
almost frantic zeal by every member of the
household. Not a cranny was left unvisited.
All, however, was in vain. No clue was to be
obtained to the enigma; and, wearied with
their exertions, and a prey to the most appalling
apprehensions, Mr. and Mrs. Blackacre at length
dismissed every one, and sat down, to rest and
consult, in an apartment rarely visited on the
upper floor.

"I shall turn over the place to Hatsey Young,
the under-keeper," said Mr. Blackacre; "he's
a sharp, bold fellow, and, in my opinion, worth
twenty of your trained police. If anybody can
rout out this mystery without pulling down the
very house, he's the man."

"He's sharp and bold enough," observed his
wife, "but, as to his honesty——?"

"Set a thief to catch a thief!" quoted Mr.
Blackacre, with a mournful chuckle.

"Ha, ha, ha! Good, sir, goo——" shouted a
strange, muffled voice, that seemed at once near
and distant, and broke off with a gurgle, as if the
speaker's mouth had been stopped by a hand.

Mr. Blackacre bounded from his chair, and
again fell back into it. Well he might; for,
high up in the wall, a panel, brickwork and
all, swung outward without the slightest
noise, and revealed a recess, apparently of some
size, and to which light seemed to be conveyed
from the roof. A small flight of velvet-covered
steps was let down in the same soundless
manner, and by these descended Charley Blackacre,
conducting, clad in a bridal dress and wreath,
Little Trout!

"My wife, sir," said Charley, with a
favourite's confident air, but not without feeling;
"I am a bad, undutiful fellow, and have not a
word to say for myself. I have been married
three months, my dearest father, and never had
the courage to risk the affection I value as much
as my life, by confessing an act you might not
approve, until my darling herself had won her
way into your heart. That, we feared, might
be a process too long for our patience, so we
plotted a little alarm, though not by any means
to the extent that happened.

"In my pretended forcible entrance—in
which I was abetted by Hatsey Young—I cut
my hand so severely, that my wife, after
repulsing us in the gallant manner we had
prearranged, implored me to remain, and declare
the whole folly. I could not make up my mind
to that, so adopted a middle course, and
concealed myself in the house, under my wife's
protection, until my hurt was cured, and our
great end obtained. How I discovered that
hiding-place I will explain at greater leisure.
How often I have been nearly detected, how
very short of provisions my wife kept me, how
she cut off my cigars without mercy, and how
she herself all but compromised the whole thing
by insisting upon trying her accordion at
two in the morning—also, how I managed
my correspondence from cousin William's—
these also you shall learn at your pleasure.
Forgive us both, my dear father and mother—
fools as we have been to mistrust you—and
take this new child to your kind hearts."

"I—I cannot oppose your mother's wishes,
sir," said Mr. Blackacre, trying with all his
might to look like a rock, that, after much
softening, had exhibited a minute fissure. "My
dear, you will speak."

"My feelings must ever give way to yours,
Henry," said Mrs. Blackacre, burning to
embrace them both. "Since you command——"

But the stiffness was so translucent, that not
one of the party could longer preserve their
gravity. There was a roar!

"Well, my dear," said the stern father-in-
law, wiping the tears of laughter from his eyes,
"you are the first woman I have met with, who
kept her husband in the cupboard among the
spoons! Perhaps you thought it was but
adding one to the number!"

"Ha, ha, ha!" roared Charley, looking
round exultingly. "Good, sir. Good !"

                         Just published,
            THE FOURTEENTH VOLUME,
              Price 5s. 6d., bound in cloth.