'Can you wonder that I look worse? The striking of the docket against me is no pleasant matter to anticipate.' The talking outside now subsided into laughter, in which the tones of a female were distinguishable. Mr. Hunter thought he recognised them, and his fear of a creditor subsided. They came from one of his women servants, who, unconscious of the proximity of her master, had been laughing and joking with some of the men, whom she had encountered upon entering the yard. 'What can Susan want?' exclaimed Mr. Hunter, signing to Austin to open the door. 'Is that you, Susan?' asked Austin, as he obeyed. 'Oh, if you please, sir, can I speak a word to my master?' 'Come in,' called out Mr. Hunter. 'What do you want?' 'Miss Florence has sent me, sir, to give you this, and to ask you if you'd please to come round.' She handed in a note. Mr. Hunter broke the seal, and ran his eyes over it. It was from Florence, and contained but a line or two. She informed her father that the lady who had been so troublesome at the house once before, in years back, had come again, had taken a seat in the dining-room, removed her bonnet, and expressed her intention of there remaining until she should see Mr. Hunter. 'As if I had not enough upon me without this!' muttered Mr. Hunter. 'Go back,' he said aloud to the servant, 'and tell Miss Florence that I am coming.' A few minutes given to the papers before him, a few hasty directions to Austin, touching the business of the hour, and Mr. Hunter rose to depart. 'Do not come back, sir,' Austin repeated to him. 'I can manage all.' When Mr. Hunter entered his own house, letting himself in with a latch key, Florence, who had been watching for him, glided forward. 'She is in there, papa,' pointing to the closed door of the dining-room, and speaking in a whisper. 'What is her business here? what does she want? She told me she had as much right in the house as I.' 'Ha!' exclaimed Mr. Hunter. 'Insolent, has she been?' 'Not exactly insolent. She spoke civilly. I fancied you would not care to see her, so I said she could not wait. She replied that she should wait, and I must not attempt to prevent her. Is she in her senses, papa?' 'Go up stairs and put your bonnet and cloak on, Florence,' was the rejoinder of Mr. Hunter. 'Be quick.' She obeyed, and was down again almost immediately, in her deep mourning.' 'Now, my dear, go round to Dr. Bevary, and tell him you have come to spend the day with him.' 'But, papa----' 'Florence, go! I will either come for you this evening, or send. Do not return until I do.' The tone, though full of kindness, was one that might not be disobeyed, and Florence, feeling sick with some uncertain, shadowed-forth trouble, passed out of the hall door. Mr. Hunter entered the dining-room.