he began again, looking round on his wife and daughters whose curiosity was roused, and who all looked back at him with wide-opened, questioning eyes.

"What upon earth does the man mean?" 'Well, let us hear what he says," Mrs. Shrugg very sensibly answered.

But he turned very white now, and his hand trembled as he silently finished the letter; then he passed it to his wife.

"You read it first; perhaps you can understand it, I can't," he said.

There was silence while Mrs. Shrugg read it; but each daughter was aware that she was the object of close scrutiny from her father the while; and each began to fear she had given individual offence to the writer, and was the subject of complaint. At last Mrs. Shrugg laid the note down, and exclaimed emphatically"It is a hoax."

"Ah!" Mr. Shrugg caught eagerly at the suggestion.

"No doubt of it," mamma continued; "we don't know his crest and writing-of course it is; and Norah," as she turned angrily, “ Norah, is this your doing?"

counterfeited

Norah had once or twice invitations so successfully that Susy and Margaret had been completely taken in; but Norah was innocent in this matter, and declared her innocence, with tears.

"As if I should try to humbug Papa! she said.

"I can tell if it's a hoax," Margaret said; "one of his cards had his address in writing. Norah, go and look if it is in the hall-basket yet."

Yes, the card was there; and a comparison of the writing proved it to be genuine.

"May we not hear the letter?" Susy asked. The father hesitated, and looked at his wife. The latter handed the note back to him.

"Yes, let them hear it," she answered.

"It

is too late now to withhold it. Norah, mind

you are not to repeat all this, not even to Nelly."

And Mr. Shrugg began again

"MY DEAR SIR,-Failing to obtain an interview with you, and hearing from our mutual friends, Mr. and Mrs. Sims, that you are to leave town shortly, I am obliged to take this means of requesting your permission to pay my addresses to your daughter. The peculiarity of our positions, will, I trust, excuse my seeming abruptness. I need hardly ask the favour of an immediate answer, as

I am sure you will be until I hear from you.

to enter further into my

aware of my anxiety

Until then, I forbear circumstances.

"With sincere regards to Mrs. Shrugg, and

all your party, I beg to remain,

"Yours very faithfully,

"JASON POLKELY SETON."

Now, young ladies," Mr. Shrugg ex

claimed, as he finished the astounding letter, perhaps one of you can explain this?”

"Of course it's a hoax, it must be," Margaret said; "but who would do it? but doesn't he say which of us he means, papa ?

"You've heard every word."

دو

"He can't mean me," Susy said softly, while her hand stole up to her locket.

'Well, he certainly can't mean us," said Bell; "that would be too absurd!" and all agreed it must be either Susy or Margaret, unless it was, as all felt it must be, a trick.

But then, as Margaret said, who would play them such a trick?

"You know," Susan remarked sapiently, "it isn't as if he were a young man, and we had been seen much with him; we haven't met him above three times altogether,—once before the Sims' party, once there, and once at the botanical fête.

And Susy laughed roguishly, remembering how she had hidden behind an azalea bed to avoid being joined by him.

Mr. and Mrs. Shrugg were much annoyed. "If you notice the letter, and it should be a hoax, how dreadfully awkward it would be," the latter exclaimed; "but if he has really written it, and you take no notice, that would be as bad; what can you do, Francis? Has any one joked you about him?”

Papa cried in utter dismay and vexation, "Can Emily Clayton have written this?"

Emily Clayton was the daughter of a neighbour, a very rich but very uneducated woman; but who, because her mother had been a dear friend of Mrs. Shrugg's, in youth, was one of their most intimate associates. Being very much older than the Shrugg young ladies, and accustomed from her girlhood to act independently, she was, in many respects, a convenient and safe companion; but that she was capable of originating or carrying out any scheme beyond the retrimming of a gown, or the organization of a dinner, was an idea not to be entertained for one instant. Besides,