416 



LATE HOUKS. 



turn, and ready to answer the thousand and one questions I expected 

 to be asked. 



Judge then my surprise when, after a slight salutation, and the tea- 

 things were removed, my uncle rubbed his back against his easy 

 chair and fell asleep, and my aunt sunk into the sullen mood I have 

 endeavoured to describe. I began to fear some heavy calamity had 

 befallen my family, which she was unwilling to break to me, but to all 

 questions on such points I received satisfactory answers. Something 

 was wrong something had happened to sour my aunt's temper ; but 

 my uncle seemed to sleep happily and good-naturedly enough it 

 was a matter that evidently had not reached him. I had a right to 

 feel disappointed, and was getting into rather a dignified humour, 

 when I heard my aunt muttering something to herself which ended 

 with " Confound him !" As she said this, she stirred the fire vigor- 

 ously, and in replacing the poker misplaced the shovel and tongs, 

 which falling with a splutter and clang awoke my uncle. 



" What's the matter?" cried he. 



" The matter, brother ! the matter !" replied my aunt fiercely, 

 " here's the old story again : three nights last week did I have to sit 

 up for my gentleman ! and its the same to-night ; but I knew how it 

 would be; I could see it as he went out of the gate: but if I don't 

 find out his tricks " 



" Its very tiresome," said my uncle, and he fell asleep again* 



Poor aunt Ursula relapsed into her former apparent agony of spirit, 

 and refixed her eyes on the fire, occasionally ejaculating, " I'll be a 

 match for him deuce take him not a morsel of supper !" and 

 so on. 



I remembered to have heard while abroad of a certain cousin who 

 had been adopted as darling by my aunt, and who, like many other 

 darlings, had run his own course, and turned out no credit to her 

 rearing up ; I naturally concluded he was the aggressor, and that I 

 could not mend the business by inquiring into it. 



" Pray !" said my aunt, after suddenly ringing the bell, " Pray !" 

 said she, as Sally entered the room, ({ what is the clock ?" 



" Nine, if you please ma'am." 



ee And is Jerry come in ?" 



" No ma'am." 



" Bother him," replied she bitterly : " I thought so ; bring up 

 the tray." 



The jingling of the supper again awoke my uncle, and he bustled 

 towards it with the good humour of a kindly host willing to do the 

 honours of the table ; but my aunt moved slowly, and dragging her 

 chair after her said, as she advanced, " It's my firm belief, brother, 

 that those Miss Jones's encourage him." 



" I think it very likely," said my uncle Benjamin. 



" Then what is to be done ?" said she, " am I to be deprived of my 

 natural rest night after night ?" 



" You have your own remedy," replied my uncle," get rid of 

 him !" 



"Brother ! brother! are you mad?" cried my aunt; "are you at 



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