The Heir Of Bendersleigh ; Or , The Freemason's Promise.

. firmness ; but before she had time to reply to it the kitchen door ivns thrown open , and her two young mistresses entered the apartment , both attired in walking costume . " " . Well , Eachel , " said the widow , . who was usually addressed as Sirs . William Chaseyor more frequently onlas Mrs . William ; " wellEachel

, y , , are these things prepared ? ive shall have the folks here presently . " " Yes , Mrs . William , " replied Eachel , " thc pigeon-pics , and the tarts , and the wine , and the mince pies , and all them tilings , is in this basket ; and the ham , and the tongue , and the chickens , is in that there basket of Jacob ' s . "

"Very good , " said Mrs . William Chasey , approvingly . "Now then , lay the cloth for luncheon , hi the dining-room , for I suppose we shall want something before we start . " " It ' s already done , Mrs . William , " replied Eachel . "Here they are , " joyously exclaimed the younger lady , looking out of the kitchen window , down a long and profusely stocked garden Avhich ivas

bounded at the bottom by one of those green lanes ivhich poets love to prattle of . " Here they are—here ' s Mr . Grainger and Mrs . Puffier Smirke , leading the way ; open the door Jacob . " Jacob opened a side door which led round into thc back garden , and waited the arrival of the guests , who had been telegraphed from the kitchen window . Presentlthey came to the porch ivhich ornamented

y up the door , and Mrs . William Chasey and her sister Harriet ran out to meet them , and to shake hands with them by twos at a time . Frequent were the declarations as to the glorious day ihe party had been favoured with , and many the congratulations which were expressed , as the , little party crowded into the little house , which now presented a striking contrast to its usual silent serenity .

And a snug little party it was that had assembled there . There was Mr . Grainger , by profession a solicitor , and reputed to be very rich ; but the only peculiarity about ivhose appearance , at least peculiarity in . these days , ivas , that he wore small clothes instead of trousers . Then there was Mrs . Pftfiler Sinirke , decidedly thc lioness of tho party , and dressed accordingly . She ivas reputed to be on intimate terms with thc editor of

the leading newspaper of the neighbouring town , through the instrumentality of which publication , she weekly poured forth hcart-strirring lines , which appeared under thc head of " Poetry , " and formed tho leading feature of the "Bottle Pool Trident , " the lines being subscribed ,

" Maria Pudler S , " which everybody of course knew meant Sirs . Puffier Smirke . This lady wore thc usual light blue spectacles , ivhich she invariably took off when she wished to look at anything minutely . Of course she was to be thc enchantress of the pic-nic party , and surrounded by the glow of a well puffed out amber satin dress , it was expected that every ruffled leaf and every trampled flower ivould call

forth a burst of poesy , only too rich to be remembered . Then there was Mr . Puffier Smirke , a nobody , and for ever lost behind the shadow of his ivife . Equal in dignity ivith Mrs . Puffier Smirke , ivas the young Mr . Augustus Eaker , ivho was thc heir to a large but dilapidated house and a