MR.

PLATITUDE AND THE MAN IN BLACK--THE POSTILLION'S ADVENTURES--THE LONE HOUSE--A GOODLY ASSEMBLAGE.
It never rains, but it pours.

I was destined to see at this inn more acquaintances than one.

On the day of Francis Ardry's departure, shortly after he had taken leave of me, as I was standing in the corn-chamber at a kind of writing-table or desk, fastened to the wall, with a book before me, in which I was making out an account of the corn and hay lately received and distributed, my friend the postillion came running in out of breath.

"Here they both are," he gasped out; "pray do come and look at them!" "Whom do you mean ?" said I.
"Why, that red-haired Jack Priest, and that idiotic parson, Platitude; they have just been set down by one of the coaches, and want a post-chaise to go across the country in; and what do you think?
I am to have the driving of them.