96 



CHAPTER X. 



The week after the events related in the preceding 

 chapter, Mr. Goodbery calls upon Mr. Oldwig, and finds 

 that worthy smoking a pipe and consuming a glass of 

 punch in his comfortable study at Hare Lodge. On 

 entering, Oldwig receives him with his usual cordiality, 

 when the following conversation ensues : 



"I have come to see you," says Goodbery, " upon a 

 matter which has caused me the greatest possible worry, 

 and it is entirely owing to you that this terrible mis- 

 fortune has befallen me." 



"You startle me," says Oldwig. 



" I allude to the occurrence which, you wall remember, 

 happened at Buckskin Hall. You had, doubtless, 

 planned that I should be made a buffoon of that evening, 

 and had, no doubt, counted the misery that I should 

 afterwards endure by perpetrating so dastardly an 

 act as I did on Miss Janet on that occasion." 



" My good fellow," replies Oldwig, " what on earth 

 do you mean ? You have been openly paying your 

 addresses for the last two years to Miss Janet, and have 

 made conversation for your friends, because you have 

 not avowed your suit for her. And now you come 

 to me and upbraid me for having incited you to kiss 

 your betrothed. This is indeed really too funny ; if 

 anything, I am your benefactor, for it appears that I 



