"I'll give you my blessing all the same, and no extra charge. But the saints forbid that I should be selling beads made out of their precious bones to Protestants." "I'll take that string," said momma. "I wouldn't do it on any account," continued Brother Eusebius, as he wrapped them up in blue paper, but momma still attaches a certain amount of veneration to those beads. "And what can I do for you, sir?" continued Brother Eusebius to the Senator, rubbing his hands. "What'll be the next thing?" "The Early Christians," replied poppa laconically, "if it's all the same to you." "Just in half a shake. Don't hurry yourselves. They'll keep, you know--they've kept a good long while already. Now you, madam," said Brother Eusebius to Mrs. Portheris, "have never had the influenza, I know. It only attacks people advanced in life." "Indeed I have," replied that lady. "Twice." "Is that so! Well, you never _would_ have had it if you'd been protected with this liqueur of ours. It's death and burial on influenza," and Brother Eusebius shook the bottle. "I consider," said Mrs. Portheris solemnly, "that eucalyptus in another form saved my life. But I inhaled it." "Tho," ventured Brother Demetrius, "tho did I. But the wine ith for internal drinking." "Listen to him! _E_ternal drinking, that's what he means. You never saw such an old boy for the influenza--gets it every week or so. How many bottles, madam? Just a nip, after dinner, and you don't know how poetic it will make you feel into the bargain." "One bottle," replied Mrs. Portheris, "the larger size, please. Anything with eucalyptus in it must be salutary. And as we are going underground, where it is bound to be damp, I think I'll have a little now." "That's what I call English common-sense," exclaimed Brother Eusebius, getting out a glass. "Will nobody keep the lady company? It's Popish, but it's good." Nobody would. Momma observed rather uncautiously that the smell of it was enough, at which Mrs. Portheris remarked, with some asperity, that she hoped Mrs. Wick would never be obliged to be indebted to the "smell." "It is quite excellent," she said, "_most_ cordial. I really think, as a precaution, I'll take another glass." "Isn't it pretty strong?" asked poppa. [Illustration: We followed the monks.] "The influenza is stronger," replied Mrs. Portheris oracularly, and finished her second potation. "And nothing," said Brother Eusebius sadly, "for the gentleman standing outside the door, who doesn't approve of encouraging the Roman Catholic Church in any respect whatever. Dear me! dear me! we do get some queer customers." At which Mr. Mafferton frowned portentously. But nothing seemed to have any effect on Brother Eusebius.