Sweet Seventeen, a home and colonial story ... Second edition

Front matter

SAVEET SEVENTEEN A HOME AND COLONIAL STORY. By ARTHUR LOCKER, AUTHOR OF ' SIK GOODWIN'S FOLLT.' " A creature not too bright or good For human nature's daily food, For transient sorrows, simple wiles, Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.' Wordsworth. IN THREE VOLUMES. Vol. II. LONDON: CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY. 1866. [The Right of Translation is Reserved.'] uokdok: printed bt _v. clowes and SONS, staioosd ftp.eet. AND CHARING CB086L CONTENTS OF VOL. II. Chap. pAGE I. Mischief-making Begins 1 II. Paul Pry 11 III. The Faie-haieed Apprentice's Brother . . 18 IV. Saturday Night in Tiverton Street ... 33 V. In Jersey 42 VI. He is Coming ! 51 VII. How Emily Managed it 65 VIII. The Chamber in the Rocks 77 IX. A Triplet of Annoyances 93 X. Richard Who ? 101 XI. A Tap on the Shoulder 107 XII.

Mother Ringrose's Lambs 112 XIII. A Couple of Interviews 119 XIV. Mrs. Shanks goes for a Drive .... 128 XV. In the Dumps 148 XVI. Engaging a Spy 153 XVII. 'Garland has Brobosed' 157 XVIII. The Doctor's Hieroglyphics CONTENTS OF VOLUME II. Chap. Pack XIX. ' I want my Dispatch-box ' 185 XX. Signs of Separation 197 XXI. Aunt Fanny at Home 209 XXII. The Luckiest Girl in London .... 228 XXIII. Mr. Weitzel's Scapegoat 235 XXIV. 'My poor Sweet Dear' 242 XXV. Aunt Pippy Speaks out 250 XXVI. An Alarming Letter 258 XXVII. Wilcox on Love 272 XXVIII. Uncle Geoffrey's Assistance .... 276 XXIX. Will you say 'Yes?'

Chapter I. Mischief-making Begins

Vincent Carnaby was not at all inclined to accept the ' No,' which poor Eleanor had uttered under the merciless pressure of Dr. Rippingille's cross-examination, as a final answer. He was aware that young ladies occasionally say ' No,' when they mean ' Yes ;' besides, notwithstanding his idolatry, he looked upon her as a mere child, who could scarcely be expected to make up her mind concerning such important matters without assistance. Mr. Garland had undoubtedly made a favourable impression upon her, and had also boldly announced his determination to marry her ; but, after all, this might only be a piece of that gentleman's colonial tendency to brag. It was consonant, Vincent con sidered, with the character of a man who had introduced himself to Miss Bayne in such a shamefully heterodox fashion.

Yet, on the other hand, he felt an uneasy suspicion, as he had hinted to Miss Rippingille, that the introduction at Madame AVeitzel's arose from no chance meeting, but from a preconcerted scheme. It would be well, therefore, if only for the sake of substantiating the accusations which he had brought forward, to investigate the truth of this matter. He could not have a more favourable opportunity for prose- VOL. II. b cuting these inquiries than while Garland was in Switzer land, and Miss Rippingille and her protdyde in Jersey. If he made any discovery he would not blurt it out at once, he would wait until the ' Australian fellow ' dared to offer his hand to Miss Bayne. It would then be time enough to un mask his designs, supposing that the designs proved to be of an unworthy character. He had not sat for many days by the side of that uncom municative tobacco-scented gentleman who conducted the foreign correspondence of Tidd's counting-house, when it occurred to him that the name of Weitzel was also the name of the music-mistress who lived in the City Road, and taught Eleanor singing.

Though rather stiff in his intercourse with the German, whom he regarded as a being of an inferior sphere, accidentally brought into juxta-position with himself, he at length ventured to question him on the subject, and was somwhat surprised when Mr. Weitzel answered, ' Dat is my vise, sir ; I vill give you von of her professional carts.' Vincent accepted the card politely enough, but intimated that he was not likely to send any pupils to Madame Weitzel. From this time forward the German became an object of some interest in Vincent's eyes. He was not the rose (most decidedly not), but he had been near it (apparently in the form of tobacco). Vincent knew that he was musical, for he had seen him surreptitiously studying part-songs under the lid of his desk. Perhaps his deep bass voice had united in a trio with Eleanor's silvery soprano ; he had probably had numerous opportunities of observing her character ; and, without doubt, he knew something about the Garlands, and was possibly aware of the real reason which induced them to take lodgings under his roof.

For some time, however, ATincent abstained from all reference to this subject, although it continually occupied his thoughts. He was too shy and stiff to begin an easy conver sation with a stranger, and his aristocratic hauteur revolted from the idea of obtaining information in a roundabout manner from a social inferior. Yet he felt bound to do something. He had made serious charges against Richard Garland, and his sense of honour told him that he ought to ascertain if these charges were true. Under these circumstances he wished that he possessed some of his friend Brandram's gossiping freedom and sociality. Brandram, with his sympathetic faculty, would have learnt more about Mr. Weitzel's inner man in a single day than he was likely to discover in twelve months. However, as Brandram was not at hand, even if he had felt inclined to make him a confederate, Vincent was compelled to go to work in his own way, and an awkward way it was too.

He astonished Mr. AVeitzel one evening (so far as that lymphatic gentleman was capable of astonishment) by requesting him, in the stiffest and most formal manner, to grant him the favour of a private interview. The German immediately assented, wondering within himself what the interview was likely to be about. He spent an inordinate amount of time washing his hands in the little cupboard devoted to that purpose, pondering over the matter with Teutonic exhaustiveness. Perhaps the amateur gentle man (so he styled Carnaby) had been smitten with a sudden admiration for his commercial abilities, and was about to request him to forsake the stony Sahara of Tidd's office for the green pastures of a private partnership. ' Carnaby and AA7eitzel ' would look very attractive when painted on an office -door.

He presently dismissed this idea as being too pleasant to be true. Perhaps the amateur gentleman, having friends in high places, was about to drop a hint that the German Democratic Union (a club to which Mr. AVeitzel belonged) had given umbrage to the Prussian ambassador. Mr. AVeitzel, after some deliberation, dismissed this idea b2 also, doubting in his innermost heart whether the Democratic Union was powerful enough to be obnoxious to anybody except the wives of those members who drank more beer than was good for them. Lastly, perhaps the amateur gentleman wanted his likeness taken. Well, if he did, he hoped he would not be so shabby as to demand it gratis, on the strength of being a fellow-clerk, as Messrs. Gatty and Mar tindale had done. He decided that Mr. Carnaby was too much of a gentleman to be guilty of such conduct, and came out of the washing-closet pondering how he should pose the amateur gentleman, so that his head might not appear un naturally big for his body.

Vincent, being quite helpless in such matters, asked his companion to name a convenient place for their interview. Mr. AVeitzel suggested the smoking-room of an adjoining eating-house, where Vincent could have an excellent cup of coffee, and where he himself could brush away the commercial cobwebs which had gathered in his brain by the aid of a little tobacco. Carnaby, though averse to tobacco-smoke, wished to make Mr. AVeitzel as amiable and communi cative as possible, so he replied 'Yes, that will do very well.' With all his book learning, the Bachelor of Arts was no diplomatist. He opened the subject rather awkwardly, by making a direct reference to Eleanor : ' A young lady, named Bayne, has been a pupil of Madame Weitzel's, I believe _' Mr. AVeitzel looked sullen, for Vincent had unwittingly touched him in a sore place. ' Has been,' he answered, accenting the word ' has ;' ' but is no longer.

She vos took away yoost as she begun to learn somthing. You know the yong lady, Mr. Garnaby ? ' ' Yes,' said \Tincent, rather stiffly, as if it had been a liberty on Mr. AVeitzel's part to ask such a question. • I hope you don't tink,' pursued Mr. Weitzel, humbly, for he was thinking about his wife's singing connection, ' dat she vos took away for any bad reason. My vise is a beautiful teacher. It vos all through other parties making mischief.' 1 Oh !' said Vincent carelessly, ' I was not even aware that Miss Bayne had ceased her music-lessons. You had some lodgers, I believe, Mr. AAreitzel,' he continued, in his undiplomatic fashion, ' called Garland ? ' 'Yes, and very pad lodgers too.' 'Ah! ' exclaimed Vincent, sharply. 'Ven I say pad, I don't mean pad in the sense of not pay ing their rent.

But they brought pad luck. They caused my vise to lose Miss Bayne.' ' How did that happen ? ' ' You must allow me to ask you von question first, Mr. Garnaby,' said cautious Mr. AVeitzel. ' Is it for the sake of hearing these things that you seek this interview ? ' 'It is.' ' And vhy do you take so much interest in my vise's lodgers _ ' ' Because — because — ' stammered Carnaby, flushing red. 'I really don't see, Mr. AVeitzel,' he suddenly said rather haughtily, ' why you should ask me such a question as that.' ' Very well then, I von't,' answered the other stolidly, relapsing into silence, and puffing vigorously at his pipe. A pause of several seconds ensued, during which Vincent sipped his coffee, and the German emitted volumes of smoke. Vincent hoped that Mr. AVeitzel would resume the con versation, but he remained obstinately silent, so that at last the young man said : ' Then you decline to tell me anything further, Mr. AVeitzel _ ' ' Not at all, my goot sir, not at all ; only I should like to know your reason for asking.

I have a character to lose, Mr. Garnaby. I know that you are a high-born gentleman, and an amateur in Mr. Tidd's counting house, but I know nothing of you out of doors. Vy should you care about my vise's pupils ? ' As he said these last words, Mr. Weitzel winked in a slow, methodical manner at his companion, thereby implying that he esteemed him to be a person of dangerously fascinating powers among the ladies. The wink and its purport were alike wasted upon Vincent, who simply answered, ' I am a friend of Dr. Rippingille's family. Also,' he continued, once more colouring, ' a friend of Miss Bayne's.' ' Perhaps something more than a friend ? ' observed Mr. AVeitzel, with much slyness. ' Perhaps so,' said Vincent, gravely. It was very galling to his exclusiveness to be questioned thus by this common fellow. ' A lover ? ' persisted Mr. AVeitzel. ' Really, Mr. Weitzel — ,' began Vincent, haughtily. ' Very well, Mr. Garnaby, if you don't like to answer, you needn't. But unless you speak out plomp and plain, not a vord can I tell of vhat you vant to know.' With this courageous reply he resumed his pipe.

Vincent's curiosity had been steadily increasing during the whole of the interview, for he began to suspect that the wily German could tell a good deal if he pleased, so after an inward struggle he overcame his proud shyness, and with much blushing and hesitation told how he loved Miss Bayne, how Mr. Garland also professed to be attached to her, and how he suspected that Mr. Garland was an unworthy person, though he was unable to prove him one. Mr. AVeitzel chuckled with secret delight. He was pleased to find that Mr. Garland was not likely to win Miss Bayne without some difficulty, and he resolved that he would do his best to make that difficulty as formidable as he could. ' Now I see how matters stand,' he said at length. ' Both of you love Miss Bayne — she is a fine yong lady,' he added parenthetically, ' and you can't both marry her, so you want to oust him — so ?' ' I want to oust him, as you call it, because I believe him to be unworthy of her — I feel convinced that he has some sinister motive in wishing to gain her affections.' D __> ' That remains to be proved,' said Mr. AVeitzel, calmly. ' Can you tell me anything which will prove it,' asked Vincent, eagerly. ' No, I can't.' ' Perhaps Madame AVeitzel can ? ' ' Time may show,' answered the German, enigmatically ; and having bestowed this small crumb of comfort to his companion, he knocked the ashes out of his pipe, as a signal that the conference was at an end.

Vincent took his de parture, with the uncomfortable consciousness that he had disclosed a good deal, and elicited nothing in return. Meanwhile Mr. AA^eitzel proceeded leisurely homewards, chewing the cud of the information he had received. In the course of the evening he said quietly to his wife : ' So Mr. Garland isn't to marry Miss Bayne after all?' ' My dear Julius,' exclaimed Madame AVeitzel, in reply, ' how you startle me ! AVhy, what do you know about it ? I thought you were so busy with your chemicals, and your pipe, and your politics, that you never troubled your head about such matters. AArho is to marry her then ? ' ' A gentleman in our office — Mr. Garnaby.' ' Carnaby ? Ah ! I have heard Miss Bayne mention the name. A very ugly man, isn't he ? I saw him once when I went to Dr. Rippingille's house.' ' Not pretty,' answered Mr. AVeitzel, ' mit a head twice so big as mine.' ' And where did you hear this news, Julius ? ' ' Ah ! that I shall tell you, my dear, ven you tell me all your secrets about the Garlands.

I overheard you vunce talking to Miss Garland about a great fortune Miss Bayne was to set if she married her brother. Is it true ? ' ' I believe so. I have their word for it.' ' Bah ! their word, that is nothing. Come, Rosa, tell me all you know ? ' After a good deal more pressing, Madame AVeitzel con fided to her husband the story of Captain Parkinson, the photograph, and the intended legacy. All the romance in Mr. AVeitzel's nature, and there was some romance lying under that lymphatic exterior, was stirred into action by the tale of the photograph. Although personally hostile to Richard Garland, because of the injury which that gentleman had inflicted on the singing connection, he scorned to believe that the young man had been attracted from Australia to the City Road merely by the base allure ments of money ; it was the AVeitzel photograph which had done it all.

His artistic vanity was immensely tickled at the idea that the work of his hands (humbly aided by the Sun) had accomplished such an astonishing result. He was quite pleased, and kissed his dear Rosa's cheek with such unwonted warmth that that excellent lady closed her eyes for the sake of enjoying her favourite spectral illusion — namely, the slim, elegant Julius AVeitzel of the AArake field concert-room as originally beheld in the happy year, 1848. ' But what a Dummkopf this old Parkinson must be,' he observed, after a few minutes' reflection. ' You mean a blockhead, my love, don't you ? AA'hy, yes, perhaps he is.' ' He must be a lunatic, to offer his fortune to a girl of whom he knows nothing, except that she has a pretty face!' ' Perhaps he knows more than some of us are aware of.' ' Vot mean you by " some of us," Rosa? ' ' I mean you and me.' ' You tink Mr. Garland knows more ? ' ' I should think most probably he does, but he has told me nothing that I have not repeated to you, Julius.

And now, tell me, what is this story about Mr. Carnaby ? ' Mr. AVeitzel gave an account of his interview with the ' amateur gentleman,' upon which his wife observed : ' I don't believe that Mr. Garland is a scoundrel/ ' He did not say, a scoundrel — he said, unworthy of Miss Bayne.' ' But I do think,' pursued Madame AVeitzel, ' there is something curious about the whole affair. However, it is no business of ours. It matters very little to us which of the two marries Miss Bayne. She is a very nice girl, and I hope for her own sake she may get the fortune. It is good natured of me to say that, isn't it, Julius, if you recollect what an injury my family suffered at the hands of a Bayne ? ' ' Her uncle, wasn't he ? ' asked Mr. Weitzel. Madame Weitzel nodded. ' AAThat became of him ? ' ' I don't know.

You know, Julius, that I generally avoid the subject, because Jemmy is so violent about it. It is of no use to rake up past injuries when the person who inflicted them is out of one's reach.' ' Ha ! out of reach. That is the question,' muttered Mr. Weitzel, reflectively. ' AVhat do you mean, Julius? ' ' A sudden thought has come into my head.' 'A thought has been in my head for a long while,' answered Madame Weitzel, looking her husband full in the face. ' That Captain Parkinson and Captain Bayne are von and the self-same person ? ' ' Yes, that is my thought,' answered the wife.

Chapter II. Paul Pet

After the conversation just recorded, Mr. AAreitzel retired to his photographic attic, and while there, fell into such a meditative frame of mind that he actually omitted to relight his pipe when it went out. He thought about Miss Eleanor Bayne and her respective admirers, and decided that neither of them deserved to possess her. Richard Gar land had injured the singing connection, Vincent Carnaby was a haughty aristocrat ; besides, setting aside any ani mosity which he might entertain against the two gentlemen, Mr. AVeitzel had a scheme of his own for ensuring Eleanor's future happiness. He called to mind an old fable which told that while a tiger and a crocodile were locked together in deadly combat, a hyæna ran off with the fawn about which they were contending. AVhy should not somebody else marry Miss Bayne, while Messieurs Garland and Car naby were striving for her hand?

And why should not that somebody else be — AVho ? Not Mr. AAreitzel himself, for he was already provided with a connubial partnership — but a bachelor gentleman, young, good-looking, and possessed of claims of a very peculiar kind on Miss Bayne's sympathies. I will say nothing more of him in this place, as he will be introduced very shortly to the reader's notice. Before, however, taking any decisive step of this sort, it was necessary to ascertain whether Richard Garland's story was true. Mr. AVeitzel wished to believe it true, because of the little photographic romance which had been interwoven in it. Still, the photographic part of the story might be true, and the remainder all moonshine. It was possible that Mr. Garland had seen Miss Bayne's portrait before he left Australia, and had been so enraptured by it as to desire to seek out the original.

This, Mr. AVeitzel, looking at the matter with the eye of an artist, felt was an event extremely likely to happen. But was it so probable that this wealthy Captain Parkinson and his money had any actual existence ? Perhaps Mr. Garland was in reality a penniless adventurer, who had dressed up this story for the sake of securing a pretty young wife. Mr. AAreitzel was unwilling to adopt this view. If Mr. Garland had been a mere adventurer, he would have gone about boasting of Captain Parkinson's intentions, whereas he had apparently confided them to no one but Madame AVeitzel. Perhaps, however, this pre tended secresy was only a trick to ensure wider publicity. Perhaps the secret was told in strict confidence to Madame Weitzel, in hopes that she would pass it on in strict confidence to Miss Bayne.

In short, Mr. AVeitzel began to get quite puzzled. He did not know what to think, and as he was unable to think, he determined to act. Mr. AVeitzel was an honest man, as honest men go, just as Vincent Carnaby was universally esteemed to be a man of high honour. But as we have seen Mr. Carnaby, under the blinding influence of jealous love, stooping to do a shabby and unworthy action — for it was very shabby of him to seek out matters of accusation against Richard Garland — so Mr. AVeitzel, under the intoxicating influence of ambi tion, gave poor Honesty such a squeeze that he nearly throttled the life out of her. In plainer language, he did something which, if discovered, might have brought him within the grasp of the law. Early in the morning after Madame AVeitzel's disclosures, if anybody had peeped into the bedroom lately occupied PAUL PRY. by Richard Garland, he would have seen Mr. AAreitzel stealing about on tiptoe, in a pair of old carpet-slippers, with a cunning expression on his fat face, and a bunch of keys in his hand.

The luggage which Richard had left behind was not very bulky. It consisted of two portman teaus and a dispatch-box. Mr. AAreitzel was excessively desirous to discover any documents which might substantiate the truth of his late lodger's statement about Captain Par kinson ; and as we are all apt to try and elevate our failings into virtues, the excellent German had almost succeeded in persuading himself that he was doing a praiseworthy action. ' It is all for the goot of de young man's character,' he mut tered to himself; ' if I find noting, I shall tink no vurse of him, but if I find someting, I shall tink much better of him.' Having uttered this consolatory remark, Mr. AVeitzel pro ceeded to apply some of his keys to the portmanteaus. They were fitted with ordinary locks, and presently yielded to his persuasive arguments.

As Mr. AVeitzel anticipated, they contained nothing but clothing. ' Now I know,' he said, as he carefully fastened them up again, ' that if the papers are here at all, they are in the dispatch-box.' The dispatch-box being provided with a patent lock, was beyond Mr. AVeitzel's skill ; so he made it up into a neat brown-paper parcel, and carried it out under his arm when he went to the office after breakfast. During his dinner-hour he took it to a well known locksmith, who had constructed Messrs. Tidd, Washburne, and Naylor's new safe, and who was well acquainted with the German clerk. ' A gentleman,' said Mr. Weitzel (inwardly wincing at the lie which he was telling), ' recently arrived from abroad, had mislaid or lost the key of his dispatch-box, to which he required immediate access. Could Messrs. Willmer supply a duplicate key?' 'The maker of the dispatch-box can,' replied Messrs. Willmers' shopman, ' but it will be more regular if you take them a note from the owner.' ' A note from you vill do yoost so veil,' replied Mr. Weit zel, ' it vill save time.' Provided with this note, which stated that he was a clerk in Messrs. Tidd's house, Mr. AAreitzel soon obtained a key.

AVhen he returned home he encountered his wife on the stairs, just when he did not wish to meet her. Of course her feminine curiosity prompted her to ask what was in that square parcel. Mr. Weitzel replied rather sullenly that he was bringing home some of the office books to post up, and as soon as he had had his tea, although it was club night at the Democratic Union, he locked himself into his attic. He had been alone about half-an-hour, when his wife knocked at the door. ' Vot do you vant ? ' demanded Mr. Weitzel, with un wonted grumpiness. ' I want to come in.' 'You can't.' 'AVhy not?' ' Because I'm busy.' 'My dear Julius, I'm astonished at you. I never before knew you lock the door. AA'hat is the matter ? ' 'Noting.' ' AA'ell, let me in, I want to speak to you most par ticularly.' ' Vait half-a-minute, then,' was the unwilling reply.

The half-minute was about eight times as long as it ought to have been, insomuch that Madame AVeitzel began to drum impatiently on the panels of the door. At last it was opened, and she entered, her usually pale cheeks flushed with annoyance. Mr. AVeitzel was standing by the fireplace, looking preternaturally lymphatic, as he lazily filled a large porcelain pipe with canaster tobacco. There PAUL PET. were no signs about the room that he had been engaged in any of his usual evening avocations, such as carpentering, or photograph-colouring ; the table was quite clear, and there was not even a novel to be seen. ' AA7hat have you been doing, my dear ? ' demanded Madame AA7eitzel, in a tone of surprise. ' Noting in particular. I like to tink sometimes, Rosa, and ven I tink, I like the door locked.' ' Then, my dear creature, all I can say is that you have never thought since we married, for I never before remember you locking the door.

But now listen to what I want to tell you. A most unpleasant thing has happened. Sarah went in to clean the second-floor to-day, and she says that she can't find one of Mr. Garland's boxes — the leather writing-case. The funny thing is that I saw it there myself only last night.' Tobacco smoke will sometimes get down the throat even of the most practised professors of the fumigatory art. Just as Madame AATeitzel was speaking, her husband was seized with a most violent fit of coughing. His face got so red that his wife became alarmed, and thumped him vigorously on the back, perhaps under the belief that he had bitten off the stem of his pipe, and that it had stuck in his throat. ' Ugh, ugh,' he said at length, ' I'm all right now. Non sense, my dear, about the dispatch-box. Depend upon it, it is in the room.' ' It isn't. Sarah and I have searched every nook and cranny.' ' The boys have hidden it away.' ' I have questioned them both most sharply.

They know nothing of it, except that they are certain they saw it in Mr. Garland's room yesterday.' 'It is very odd,' observed Mr. AVeitzel, musingly. ' It is, indeed. A more unpleasant thing could not possibly happen.' ' Do not worry yourself, Rosa, my dear. You will see it will turn up to-morrow.' ' I don't see how it can,' said Madame Weitzel, as she stooped to pick up a piece of paper which had fallen under neath the table. ' AA7hat is this ? ' she said, in a surprised tone. ' " Richard Garland, Esq., Dr. to Higgs and O'Hara, tailors and habitmakers, Collins Street, Melbourne." A receipted bill of Mr. Garland's ! How came this here, Julius ? ' I cannot do justice to the absurd look of perplexity, combined with dismay, which overspread Mr. Weitzel's usually stolid countenance, as his wife uttered these words.

He attempted to repeat the choking trick, but failed signally in the effort. He then snatched the paper from Madame Weitzel's hand, saying, rudely : ' How should I know how it came here ? Mr. Garland vas always smoking in my room, and prying into my drawers. I suppose it dropped out of his pocket.' ' And has lain there ever since he left?' continued Madame AVeitzel, ironically. She had been putting several things together in her mind, and forming a conclusion from them. The locked door — the absence of the office-books which Mr. AVeitzel had been about to post up — the square brown-paper parcel — and, lastly, this receipted bill — formed a chain of circumstantial evidence which she could not resist. ' Oh ! Julius,' she cried ; ' how could you venture to open Mr. Garland's private boxes ? ' Mr. Weitzel's face crimsoned.

He fancied that his wife had actually seen him engaged in his burglarious task. ' If you saw me,' he answered sulkily, ' vy didn't you tell PAUL PEY. me so at vunce ? Vy didn't you say to Sarah, " I know vere de box is ? " ' ' My dear Julius, I never saw you ; I only made a guess, but I see that I have guessed the truth. Now tell me, for what reason did you open Mr. Garland's dispatch box?' ' Veil,' said Mr. Weitzel, after some hesitation, ' to find out vether the story about Captain Parkinson was true.' ' And is it true ? ' asked Madame AVeitzel, eagerly. ' It is true,' replied her husband. VOL. II. c

Chapter III. The Faie-haieed

APPEENTICe's BEOTHEE. A few evenings after the affair of the dispatch-box, a long bodied phaeton, drawn by a powerful grey horse, and driven by a skilful charioteer, performed a scientific curve among the cabs and omnibuses in the City Road, and was then pulled-up in front of No. 494. Master Ludwig Weitzel, who was standing at the parlour window, racking his young brains over a long-division sum, instantly laid down his slate, and exclaiming 'It's uncle Jemmy, ma!' ran to open the street-door. He met Mr. Joddrell coming up the garden, with his white hat cocked over his left eyebrow, and the stump of a large cigar in his hand. ' AVant a job, Looey?' asked Mr. Joddrell, playfully smiting his nephew's ear with one of his dogskin gloves. ' Yes, uncle,' answered the boy, not. sorry to escape from his arithmetical studies. ' AATell, go and stand by his head, and see that the cads don't annoy him.