288 SWAMP HALL. 



Yes he counselled one way, and I took exactly the contrary. To 

 say the truth, I am almost tired of Mr. Solon." 



" Husband be reasonable : you know he must die soon." 



" Die ! I tell you what, wife I have long suspected it, but now I 

 am sure of the fact. People who promise to will away estates, never 

 die. If ever they fall sick, it's only to teaze us, by getting well again." 



(f The man can't live," replied Mrs. Penny, with great emphasis, 

 " I tell you " 



We know not what consolatory proofs of, Mr. Solon's early dissolution 

 would have been advanced, had not a shuffling at the door, and the 

 shrill voice of Becky, the servant, suddenly snapped the chain of Mrs. 

 Penny's evidence. 



" Well, Mr. Solon, I'll give your name," cried the girl, backing into 

 the room, and vainly endeavouring to delay the entrance of an old gen- 

 tleman, who flung himself into the middle of the parlour, and stood with 

 his hat perched on the very summit of his head one arm flung behind 

 the tail of his coat, the other extended forth and, with the eye of 

 " death-darting cockatrice," looking now at the girl, and now at her 

 master and mistress, as, with a voice spasmodic with surprise, he cried 

 out 



"Name, name! Mr. Penny Mrs. Penny!" The friend of the 

 family stood gasping with astonishment Mrs. Penny brought a chair, 

 and in the softest manner possible, chid Mr. Solon for venturing out so 

 early. " The dews were yet upon the ground." 



Mr. Solon, shaking his forefinger at Becky the maid, inquired of Mr. 

 Penny, t( who is this ? asked my name barred me at the door !" his 

 voice rose as he enumerated each new indignity " Me !" He literally 

 crowed out the monosyllable. 



As they say in Parliament, Mrs. Penny explained. " It was the new 

 servant." 



" She's better than the last, I hope ?" observed the family friend, 

 scarcely permitting himself to be mollified : then to Becky, most im- 

 pressively 



" Young woman ! behave yourself, or I shall discharge you/' 



Becky muttered something about " two masters." Mrs. Penny caught 

 the sound of discontent " What's that, Becky? Remember, in this 

 house, Mr. Solon is the same as Mr. Penny." 



Betty caught the eye of her master, and with a significant " Oh ! " 

 vanished from the parlour. 



" I hope, sir," enquired the master of the mansion of the family friend 

 " you remain in excellent health?" 



f You do hope, eh ? I thought you didn't you didn't speak before. 

 Perhaps, I'm troublesome?" 



" Now, my dear Mr. Solon," exclaimed Mrs. Penny in the greatest 

 concern. 



" I can go to Lincolnshire," cried Mr. Solon. 



" I wish you would," thought Mr. Penny. 



" In fact I ought to go I mill go." Mrs. Penny said nothing, but 

 smiled beseechingly at the friend of the family, who, by degrees, let his 

 anger subside in his paternal care for Miss Mary Penny, whose choice, 

 or rather, whose reception of a husband was at this time, the grand 

 household question. There were two aspirants for the young lady's 

 hand, linked as it was with three hundred per annum by the will of her 



