CHAPTER XII. MISS WINTON'S VISITOR. "In all thy humours, whether grave or mellow, Hast so much wit, and mirth, and spleen about thee, MISS WINTON sat in her morning-room. She had had an "interview" with her housekeeper, an interview by no means uncommon, yet none the less amusing. Mrs Grantly had, with a timid rap, announced her arrival. In answer to Miss Winton's come in," the old lady had entered in her usual manner, not unlike a cat treading cautiously over hot bricks. "If you please, ma'am," she began with a kind of sniffle, which prepared Miss Winton for what was coming. Mrs Grantly's sniffles were like the not very musical turn of the crane, an instrument well known to lighter-men, which has an immediate connection with flood-gates, and the letting in (or out) of pent-up waters. "If you please, ma'am, I really cannot stand it longer, I feel hurt in every way, and there's no one more harmless or innocent than I am; I couldn't bear one malice, if I would, I'm that easy and childlike, and loving; my poor dear husband would say the same if he were alive; he never heard an angry word pass my lips in the whole three months of our married life,—sad pity that it wasn't longer, but, bless him! he loved the drink, and when a man does that his days are not his own; but really, ma'am, James is that unbearable at times that I can't put up with it; I'm sure I do my best to teach him better; I never lose an opportunity of reading a tract to him. You'd see, if you came down to the kitchen at meal times, ma'am, there are all my precious tracts spread out on the table, and I'm sure if I'm starving with hunger, I'd never put bit between my lips till I'd asked a blessing, and read one of them sweet stories out loud to James and Eliza, and Betsey; but what's the use of putting my beautiful thoughts into their dull comprehensions? They've no sense to approximate what is beautiful; I tell them my mind's too heavenly for them. I was telling them the most beautiful bit of poetry as ears ever listened to last night—a few lines I made on the marriage of a fellow servant, twenty years or more ago, when I had more heart for making verses than I have now; they begin-it will only take me a minute to say them off, ma'am; I'm sure you'd like to hear them : 'And hast thou gone, dear Hester, gone, To scenes untried in a distant home; You've left your Sarah, who loved you much, 'Think you that she will e'er forget 'When in your little home with him “There, maʼam, as the Rev. Mr Samuel Corry said, time upon time, ‘Sarah, your poetry is both touching and edifying.' I feel sure, ma'am, it meets with a response in your tender heart, and you'll sympathise with me when I tell you that James and the girls, with their low-born manners, only laughed when I repeated it to them last night as ever was—and says I, moreover, 'If I could only write, I'd have published volumes and volumes of poetry before now.' Well, ma'am, would you believe it, James was that profane, that he said he thought Providence had been very merciful in not teaching me how to write; it's that that has so upset me, ma'am; I don't mind what he says to hurt my feelings, if the young man isn't profane, and I want you to be good enough just to let him know how terribly wicked his conduct is no wonder he gets callous and hardened, and sits down to his tea without saying his grace, when he lets such wicked thoughts as these come into his mind. I shouldn't think I did my duty by him, ma'am, if I didn't tell you!"—and the crane having opened the flood-gates by this time, the waters poured forth. Mrs Grantly burst into an agony of tears, and, throwing her apron over head, left the room as she had entered-on tip-toe. If there were anybody more able than another to stir Miss Winton's whole being into suppressed laughter, and touch that sense of the ludicrous which she so largely possessed, Mrs Grantly was the one. Miss Winton, who had with the greatest difficulty kept her composure during the "interview," gave way, when Mrs Grantly disappeared, to uncontrolled fits of laughter. She was just recovering her composure when James entered with a card,-" Captain Horatio Murdonti is anxious to see you for a few minutes alone, ma,'am, if you will accord him that favour;" and James drew down the corners of his mouth to hide a smile. Miss Winton looked at the card for a moment, then, quite puzzled as to whom this Captain Horatio Murdonti could be, bade James show him in. Another minute, and her visitor entered. He was a tall, thin man, with a long moustache, and beard, of so dark a brown, that at first sight they appeared to be quite black—the hair was touched with grey. But for an indescribable look of mirth in Captain Murdonti's small and deep-set eyes, he would have given any one the impression of being a somewhat severe and very solemn personage. As it was, his commanding figure looked important, but a certain suppressed merriment about his face detracted a little from the dignity of his bearing. Madam, you do me great honour and kindness in permitting me to see you at this early hour. I hope I find you in the full enjoyment of health, as it leaves me-in your presence." "To what am I indebted -" began Miss Winton with dignity. "For the honour of this visit?" interrupted Captain Murdonti. 'Well, possibly, madam, to the fact that an old friend-ahem! I would wish to speak prudently—an old acquaintance has some desire to see with his own eyes how Father Time has treated one of the prettiest women of her day." "Sir!" began Miss Winton, her colour rising, and her whole being breathing out indignation. “Sir!" "No offence, my dear madam, I beg," said her visitor, stroking complacently his long beard. "Per-. haps I presume upon my grey hairs, and take an old man's privilege; pardon me if I seem to offend by my plainness of speech; you do not recognise me, then? Can it be that I am so soon forgotten?" and taking out his pocket handkerchief he pressed it softly to his eyes-" and yet what wonder? I am changed, I know it well, even my dog barked at me an hour or two ago, as if he hardly knew me; I should not wonder if he thought me altered since last night, |