He concluded it was a family group--the likeness, perhaps, of Mrs. Basil and her late husband engaged in making out their weekly accounts. "I will beg Agnes not to be jealous of our charming landlady," thought he, and took out his note-book with the intention of transferring the likeness for that young lady's amusement. While engaged in this occupation the door opened, and in stepped Mrs. Basil and her new tenant. In his alarm and haste he stepped back suddenly, and overthrew a little table, on which were some ornaments, he knew not what, which rolled to his mother's feet. She uttered a cry of horror; and the landlady herself stood still, regarding him with a face of astonishment, and even terror. "Is that--your--son?" exclaimed she, clutching his mother by the arm. But Mrs. Coe did not seem to hear her. "Look, look!" cried she; "the skull, the skull! Oh, is it not a frightful omen!" "I am really very sorry," said Charley, picking up the article in question; "it was very stupid of me, Mrs. Basil." "Don't mention it, young Sir," said the landlady, who had apparently recovered from her sudden tremor; "the skull is no worse for its roll, you see; he was fortunately a hard-headed gentleman who originally owned it." "Indeed," said Charley, taking it from her hand with some curiosity, "it seems a curious ornament for a sitting-room. May I ask whom it belonged to when it had flesh about it?" "It is the skull of Swedenborg," answered Mrs. Basil. "A near relative of mine was a disciple of his, and left it to me as a most precious relic." "But how the deuce did he get possession of it?" inquired the young man. "Well, not very fairly, as it seems to me," smiled the landlady. "While your mother sits down and rests herself--for I am afraid you have frightened her a bit--I'll tell you the story." "Yes, yes," said Mrs. Coe, faintly; "I shall be better presently; don't mind me." "Well, the tale runs thus, Sir. Swedenborg was buried in the vault beneath the Swedish embassador's chapel in Princes Square, Ratcliffe Highway; and a certain theologian having once affirmed that all great philosophers took their bodies with them into the world of spirits, and that this gentleman had done the like, leave was obtained to settle this point by actual examination. The body was found, and the theologian confuted, but no trouble was taken to solder on again the lid of the coffin. A thieving Swede, attending a funeral of one of his countrymen in the same vault, remarked this circumstance, and stole the skull, with the intention of selling it to some disciple of the great philosopher's; and I am ashamed to say that he found a purchaser in my respected relative: and that's how I became possessed of Swedenborg's skull." "Very curious, though rather larcenous," observed the young man, laughing. "And this good lady over the mantel-piece, who is she?"