178 THE BOARDING-HOUSE. 



servatory of artificial flowers ; a white veil, and a green parasol,, with 

 a cobweb border. 



The visit-jr (who was very fat and red-faced) was shewn into the 

 drawing-room ; Mrs. Tibbs presented herself, and the negociation 

 commenced. 



" I called in consequence of an advertizement/' said the stranger, 

 in a voice like a man who had been playing a set of Pan's pipes for a 

 fortnight without leaving off. 



"Yes!" said Mrs. Tibbs, rubbing her hands very slowly, and 

 looking the applicant full in the face two things she always did on 

 such occasions. 



" Money isn't no object whatever to me," said the lady, " so much 

 as living in a state of retirement and obtrusion." 



Mrs. Tibbs, as a matter of course, acquiesced in such an exceed- 

 ingly natural desire. 



" I am constantly attended by a medical man," resumed the 

 pelisse wearer ; " have been a shocking Unitarian for some time 

 have had very little peace since the death of Mr. Bloss." 



Mrs. Tibbs looked at the relict of the departed Bloss, and thought 

 he must have had very little peace in his time. Of course she could 

 not say so ; so she looked very sympathising. 



" I shall be a good deal of trouble to you," said Mrs. Bloss ; " but 

 for that trouble I am willing to pay. I am going through a course of 

 treatment which renders attention necessary. I have one mutton 

 chop in bed at half-past eight, and another at ten, every morning." 



Mrs. Tibbs, as in duty bound, expressed the pity she felt for any 

 body placed in such a distressing situation ; and the carnivorous Mrs. 

 Bloss proceeded to arrange the various preliminaries with wonderful 

 dispatch " Now mind," said that lady, after terms were arranged ; 

 " I am to have the second-floor front for my bedroom ?" 



" Yes, ma'am." 



" And you'll find room for my little servant Agnes ?" 



" Oh ! certainly." 



" And I can have one of the cellars in the area for my bottled 

 porter." 



" With the greatest pleasure ; James shall get it ready for you by 

 Saturday." 



" And I'll join the company at the breakfast -table on Sunday 

 morning," said Mrs. Bloss ; " I shall get up on purpose" 



" Very well," returned Mrs. Tibbs, in her most amiable tone ; for 

 satisfactory references had been et given and required," and it was 

 quite certain that the new comer had plenty of money. " It's rather 

 singular," continued Mrs. Tibbs, with what was meant for a most 

 bewitching smile, " that we have a gentleman now with us, who is 

 in a very delicate state of health a Mr. Gobler His apartment is 

 the back drawing-room." 



" The next room ? " inquired Mrs. Bloss. 



" The next room," repeated the hostess. 



" How very promiscuous !" ejaculated the widow. 



" He hardly ever gets up," said Mrs. Tibbs, in a whisper. 



" Lor !" cried Mrs. Bloss, in an equally low tone. 



