Having encountered the old lady often, under similar cir-
cumstances, Mr. Page was not at all astonished. He simply
made his Obeisance, and sat down, whilst Lady ."Flokes
finished! the superintendence of some mysterious cookery thht
(vas going on in a stewpan on the hob, and with the smallest
possible quantity of coals and cinders that could keep one
antjtlier alight. '

"1 am in a sad way — a sad way, Mr. Page; robbed and
pillaged right and left — right and left. Ah dear!"

'' I shall be most happy to serve you, madam," replied
Mc Page, " in any way that you may think advisable."

f Well, well — ah dear! you shall see," returned the old
lady, pulling a skinny bell-rope of old picture-cord, which,
after niany tugs — until the slackened wires clattered all
round the' room, and made the mice scuffle away behind the
paper — produced a dull tinkle outside. It was, however, loud
enpugh to summon Patience Stiles to her ladyship's pre-
senile ; and that maiden came in, and, making a curtsey, stogd
before them. Patience was the only thing about the house,
eicept the black footman, that was' not skinpy' and 9I4. Sh*.
was plump, and fresh, and' well-favoured. i'

"Nowi Mr. Pa^e," said Lady Flokes, "look at Tier— look
Ether well." ..
Mr. Pa^e did as he was desired; and, indeed) the task was
not an unpleasant one.
