186 THE GOLD SNUFF-BOX. 



" Phew ! if she stole snuff-boxes, she'll fry for it now," said 

 the Colonel, taking share in the lament ; " I hope, madam, it 

 was merely a pretty toy, something not valuable ?" 



"A toy I my dear sir ; fine pale gold invaluable for weight, 

 age, and workmanship. Had you ever held it in your hand, 

 you would never have forgotten it." 



" Faith ! arid likely enough, my lady." 

 " George, love, if you would just speak to the executor, 

 Put it on the score of a mistake." 



" I speak ! Madam, do you want to have me shot ?" 

 " No, no, it's useless. Her nephew is an attorney. ' Do 

 men gather grapes ?' as Mr. Heavy side says." 



" Damn Heavy side !" exclaimed the peer, " I must go see 

 about some wine ;" and he left the room. 



The old lady recommenced with a groan " What a memory 

 Mrs. P had ! she would remember cards through a rub- 

 ber, and never omitted marking in her life. She took the 

 General's box ; she had always a fancy for knickknackeries, 

 and wore ornaments very unsuitable to her years forgetting 

 the lilies of the valley. I wish Miss Clarke was here, a 

 worthy comely young woman, Colonel, recommended to me as 

 a spiritual assistant by Mr. WagstafF, of the Bethesda. My 

 nephew can't bear her, because she was bred a dress-maker, 

 and a vile dragoon officer told him some nasty story to her 

 disadvantage. Oh, Colonel, I wish George was awakened 

 you go to church regularly ?" 



" I cannot assert that I do regularly ; not that I see any 

 harm in it." 



" Very prettily remarked, Colonel ; and you often, no 

 doubt, reflect upon the place you're going to ?" 



" Yes, indeed, madam ; one must join one's regiment sooner 

 or later." 



"Ah, Colonel, I wish George had your serious turn; and, 

 between ourselves, he is by no means a safe whist player. 

 His game is very dangerous. Ah, if I could have had Mr. 

 WagstafF to meet you ! but my nephew's prejudice is so 

 violent. He is a sweet, spiritual-minded young man comes 

 often to sit an evening with me ; and he is so obliging ! takes 

 Miss Clarke home at midnight to save me the expense of 

 coach-hire, although she lives beyond the lamps. Poor Mrs. 

 P ! I wonder who will get her card counters. They 



