THE FLORAL TELEGRAPH. 177 
to this house, and to all that dwell 
in it ! ” 
All this I observed with a great deal 
of astonishment, from under my half- 
closed eyelids. The whole of the 
service for the sick in extremity was 
read through, my hang-dog of a ne¬ 
phew making the responses with such 
a provoking unction that I resolved 
that the next religious ceremony held 
on my account should be the holy 
one of matrimony. I did not quite 
like the sonorous “ Amen ” of my 
worthy host. It sounded to me 
strangely blatant and loud. 
I felt myself too weak, as I was 
held up in the arms of a withered old 
