Mr.Alder cannot come to-night." "Ah," said Hazel, closing the door.

"Then are you here in his place ?" "I am here instead of him.

Mr.Alder is on other business that he had to attend to at the editor's request.

Now, Mr.Hardwick--that's the editor, you know----" "Yes, I know," answered Hazel.
They were by this time seated in the front parlour.
"Well, Mr.Hardwick is very anxious that the figures should be given with absolute accuracy." "Of course, that would be much better," cried the man; "but, you see, I have gone thoroughly into the question with Mr.Alder already.

He said he would mention what I told him to the editor--put my position before him, in fact." "Oh, he has done so," said Miss Baxter, "and did it very effectively indeed; in fact, your reasons are quite unanswerable.