"Very, thank you. I met a most polite old gentleman--a neighbour of yours, at least, he knew your grandson." "Who can that be? what was he like?" Kate described him. "That will be Mr. Davis. I wonder what took him to London? we--" She was interrupted by the entrance of her daughter. Mrs. Wilson was a much more prepossessing person; she was rather an exaggerated edition of Mrs. Storey--fatter, louder, more gossipping, and less kind-hearted. She was older too; but still, rather pretty and very well dressed. She welcomed Kate cordially enough, and proposed shewing her her room before tea. It was a tiny chamber, but all her own, and Kate was glad of its solitude for a few moments before joining the party below. When she descended to the dining-room, she found an addition to the circle in the person of the eldest son--a lad about a year older than Pem., thin and fair; his countenance shewed a much higher degree of intelligence than his brother's. He was reading when Kate came in, and looked up to bow, (not to rise) for exactly the space of time necessary for that operation. Pem. was also reading--a newspaper was his study--he seemed to get on with difficulty, constantly snuffling, and elevating his eye-brows, as if vainly attempting to open his small eyes wider than nature intended. "Now then, Miss Vernon, I am sure you are ready for tea," said Mrs. Wilson. "I ordered you a couple of eggs; you will want something more substantial than a bit of toast after your journey." Kate silently agreed, longing for a glass of wine after her fatigue of body and mind. However, she took a cup of tea very readily, albeit washy enough. "Who do you think Miss Vernon travelled down with?" "Why how should I know, mother?" "Mr. Davis!" "Nev-er! I did not know he was up in town." "It's very strange," said Mrs. Jorrocks with a significant nod of the head, "That patent he have paid so much money on, is not going straight I dare say." "Mr. Davis, if he is the gentleman, did not get in till we reached Wolverton," said Kate. "Wolverton," repeated Mrs. Wilson, "Whatever was he doing at Wolverton?" Mrs. Jorrocks incapable of solving this problem shook her head with awful significance, as she munched her buttered toast. The young gentlemen read sociably all through the meal. "Here James," said Mrs. Wilson to her eldest son, "Put this sugar basin away do, I am so hot and tired pouring out tea; I dare say" (pronounced "dessay,") "Miss Vernon will make tea for us now."