l^ow  eating  pigeon-pie  is  not,  in  itself,  a  suspicious
act;  but  ladies  are  so  sharp.  Mrs.  Bazalgette  said  to
herself,  "  This  creature  alone  is  not  a  bit  surprised  (for
Bazalgette  is  fibbing).  Whyis  this  creature  not  surprised?
Humph !  Captain  Kenealy,"  said  she  in  honeyed  tones,
"  what  would  you  advise  us  to  do  ?  "

"  Advertaize,"  drawled  the  captain,  as  cool  as  a  cucumber.
"  Advertise  ?    What,  publish  her  name  ?  "

"No!  no  names.  I'll  tell  yah,"  and  he  proceeded  to
drawl  out  very  slowly,  from  memory,  the  following  adver-
tisement. N.B.  —  The  captain  was  a  great  reader  of
advertisements,  and  of  little  else.
"WANDERAA,  RETARN!

"If  L.  F.  will  retam  —  to  her  afflicted  —  relatives  —  she
shall  be  received  with  open  aams  —  all  shall  be  forgotten  and
forgiven  —  and  reunaited  aflfection  shall  solace  every  wound."

"That  is  the  style.  It  always  brings  'em  back.
Dayvilish  good  paie.     Have  some  moa  ?  "

Mr.  Fountain  and  Mrs.  Bazalgette  raised  an  outcry
against  the  captain's  advice,  and  when  the  table  was
calm  again,  Mrs.  Bazalgette  surprised  them  all  by  fixing
her  eyes  on  Kenealy,  and  saying  quietly,  "You  know


LOVE  ME  LITTLE,   LOVE  ME  LONG.  463

where  she  is."  She  added  more  excitedly,  "Now,  don't
deny  it!  On  your  honor,  sir,  have  you  no  idea  where
my  niece  is  ?  "

"  Upon  my  honah,  I  have  an  idea."

"Then  tell  me."

"  I'd  rayther  not."

"  Perhaps  you  would  prefer  to  tell  me  in  private."

"  No ;  prefer  not  to  tell  at  all."

Then  the  whole  table  opened  on  him,  and  appealed  to
his  manly  feeling,  his  sense  of  hospitality,  his  humanity,
to  gratify  their  curiosity.
