"Soon told, my friend," he answered. "See here. I went back to Germany because all ties in England were broken. I went to Lord C----: I said, 'I will go back and see the palingenesis of my country; I will see what they are doing, now the French are in the dust.' He said, 'Go, and God speed you!' I went. What did I find? Beggars on horseback everywhere, riding post-haste to the devil--not as good horsemen, either, but as tailors of Brentford, and crowding one another into the mud to see who would be there first. 'Let me get out of this before they ride over me,' said I. So I came forth to England, took ship, and here I am." "A most lucid and entirely satisfactory explanation of what you have been about, I must say," answered the Major; "however, I must be content." At this moment, little Sam, who had made his escape in the confusion, came running in, breathless. "Papa! papa!" said he, "Lee has come home with a snake seven feet long." Lee was at the door with the reptile in his hand--a black snake, with a deep salmon-coloured belly, deadly venomous, as I knew. All the party went out to look at it, except the Doctor and Miss Thornton, who stayed at the fire-place. "Mind your hands, Lee!" I heard James say; "though the brute is dead, you might prick your fingers with him." I was behind all the others, waiting to look at the snake, which was somewhat of a large one, and worth seeing, so I could not help overhearing the conversation of Miss Thornton and the Doctor, and having heard the first of it my ears grew so unnaturally quickened, that I could not for the life of me avoid hearing the whole, though I was ashamed of playing eavesdropper. "My God, sir!" I heard her say, "what new madness is this? Why do you persist in separating yourself from your family in this manner?" "No madness at all, my dear madam," he answered; "you would have done the same under the circumstances. My brother was civil, but I saw he would rather have me away, and continue his stewardship. And so I let him." Miss Thornton put another question which I did not catch, and the sense of which I could not supply, but I heard his answer plainly: it was,-- "Of course I did, my dear lady, and, just as you may suppose, when I walked up the Ritter Saal, there was a buzz and giggle, and not one held out his hand save noble Von H----; long life to him!" "But--?" said Miss Thornton, mentioning somebody, whose name I could not catch. "I saw him bend over to M---- as I came up to the Presence, and they both laughed. I saw a slight was intended, made my devoirs, and backed off. The next day he sent for me, but I was off and away. I heard of it before I left England." "And will you never go back?" she said. "When I can with honour, not before; and that will never be till he is dead, I fear; and his life is as good as mine. So, hey for natural history, and quiet domestic life, and happiness with my English friends! Now, am I wise or not?" "I fear not," she said.