"There was quite a sum raised, and the head of the family decamped with it two days after, for Heaven knows where, leaving his wife and infants on Mrs.Upjohn's hands poorer than ever." But Mrs.Upjohn's entertainment proved to be neither orthographic nor linguistic.

The guests arrived punctually as bidden, and their hostess, clad in her most splendid attire, received them with her most gracious manner.

There was nothing to foretell the fate that awaited them.

Her tall, awkward daughter stood nervously by her side.

Mr.Upjohn, too, kept there valiantly for a time, then his round, ample figure and jolly face disappeared somewhere, under chaperonage of Mrs.Bruce, his latest admiration.