backbenchers

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; his brown eyes replied with a volume, and holding her hand up in the air as high as her ear, and keeping at an incredible distance, he led her solemnly to a room where the other ladies were, and left her there with a profound bow. The Peytons were nearly the last persons expected; and soon after their arrival the funeral procession formed. This part was entirely arranged by the undertaker. The monstrous custom of forbidding ladies to follow their dead had not yet occurred even to the idiots of the nation, and Mr. Peyton and his daughter were placed in the second carriage. The first contained Griffith Gaunt alone, as head mourner. But the Peytons were not alone: no other relation of the deceased being present, the undertaker put Mr. Neville with the Peytons, because he was heir to a baronetcy. Kate was much startled, and astonished to see him come out into the hall. But when he entered the carriage, she welcomed him warmly. "Oh, I am so glad to see you here!" said she. "Guess by that what my delight at meeting you must be," said he. She blushed and turned it off. "I mean, that your coming here gives me good hopes there will be no more mischief." She then lowered her voice, and begged him on no account to tell her papa of her ride to Scutchemsee Nob. "Not a word," said George. He knew the advantage of sharing a secret with a fair lady. He proceeded to whisper something very warm in her ear: she listened to some of it; but then remonstrated, and said,-- "Are you not ashamed to go on so at a funeral? Oh, do, pray, leave compliments a moment, and think of your latter end." He took this suggestion, as indeed he did everything from her, in good part; and composed his visage into a decent gravity. Soon after this they reached the church, and buried the deceased in his family vault. People who are not bereaved by the death are always inclined to chatter, coming home from a funeral. Kate now talked to Neville of her own accord, and asked him if he had spoken to his host. He said yes, and, more than that, had come to a clear understanding with him. "We agreed that it was no use fighting for you. I said, if either of us two was to kill the other, it did not follow you would wed the survivor." "Me wed the wretch!" said Kate, "I should abhor him, and go into a convent in spite of you all, and end my days praying for the murdered man's soul." "Neither of us is worth all that," suggested Neville, with an accent of conviction. "That is certain," replied the lady, dryly; "so please not to do it." He bade her set her mind at ease: they had both agreed to try and win her by peaceful arts. "Then a pretty

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