Betty Bone, too, was a noble-hearted woman, and would undertake to cook for a party of fifty,—roasts, boils, stews, soups, sweets, savouries, sauces, and all! And so what with a pretty girl along side of him, and two sitting opposite, Billy did uncommonly well, and felt far more at home than he did at Tantivy Castle with the Earl and Mrs. Moffatt, and the stiff dependents his lordship brought in to dine. The Major stopped Billy from calling for Burgundy after his cheese by volunteering a glass of home-brewed ale, “bo-bo-bottled,” he said, “when he came of age,” though, in fact, it had only arrived from Aloes, the chemist’s, at Hinton, about an hour before dinner. This being only sipped, and smacked, and applauded, grace was said, the cloth removed, the Major was presently assuring Billy, in a bumper of moderate juvenile port, how delighted he was to see him, how flattered he felt by his condescension in coming to visit him at his ‘umble abode, and how he ‘oped to make the visit agreeable to him. This piece of flummery being delivered, the bottles and dessert circulated, and in due time the ladies retired, the Misses to the drawing-room, Madam to the pantry, to see that the Bumbler had not pocketed any of the cheese-cakes or tarts, for which, boy-like, he had a propensity. * * * * The Major, we are ashamed to say, had no mirror in his drawing-room, wherein the ladies could now see how they had been looking; so, of course, they drew to that next attraction—the fire, which having duly stirred, Miss Yammerton and Flora laid their heads together, with each a fair arm resting on the old-fashioned grey-veined marble mantel-piece, and commenced a very laughing, whispering conversation. This, of course, attracted Miss Harriet, who tried first to edge in between them, and then to participate at the sides; but she was repulsed at all points, and at length was told by Miss Yammerton to “_get away!_” as she had “nothing to do with what they were talking about.” “Yes I have,” pouted Miss Harriet, who guessed what the conversation was about. “No, you haven’t,” retorted Miss Flora. “It’s between Flora and me,” observed Miss Yammerton dryly, with an air of authority. “Well, but that’s not fair!” exclaimed Miss Harriet. “Yes it is!” replied Miss Yammerton, throwing up her head. “Yes it _is!_” asserted Miss Flora, supporting her elder sister’s assertion. “No, it’s _not!_” retorted Miss Harriet. “You weren’t there at the beginning,” observed Miss Yammerton, alluding to the expedition to Tantivy Castle. “That was not my fault,” replied Miss Harriet, firmly; “Pa would go in the coach.” “Never mind, you were _not_ there,” replied Miss Yammerton tartly.