"The maid, I think, forgot to mention your name, sir?" said the old lady gently, but in a tone of inquiry. "Very like, ma'am--very like, indeed--because, I think, I forgot to mention my name to her," he drawled pleasantly. "I've taken a deal of trouble--I have--to find you out, ma'am, and two hundred and forty-five miles here, ma'am, and the same back again--a journey of four hundred and ninety miles--is not just nothing. I'm glad to see you, ma'am--happy to find you in your drawing-room, ma'am--hope you find yourself as well, ma'am, as your numerous friends could wish you. My name, ma'am, is Levi, being junior governor of the firm of Goldshed and Levi, well known on 'Change, ma'am, and justly appreciated by a large circle of friends, as you may read upon this card." The card which he tendered did not, it must be allowed, speak of these admiring friends, but simply announced that "Goldshed and Levi" were "Stockbrokers," pursuing their calling at "Offices--10, Scroop Street, Gimmel Lane," in the City. And having held this card before her eyes for a sufficient time, he put it into his pocket. "You see, ma'am, I've come all this way for our house, to ask you whether you would like to hear some news of your governor, ma'am?" "Of whom, sir?" inquired the tall old lady, who had remained standing all this time, as she had received him, and was now looking at him with eyes, not of suspicion, but of undisguised fear. "Of your husband, ma'am, I mean," drawled he, eyeing her with his cunning smile. "You don't mean, sir----" said she faintly, and thereupon she was seized with a trembling, and sat down, and her very lips turned white, and Mr. Levi began to think "the old girl was looking uncommon queerish," and did not like the idea of "its happening," under these circumstances. "There, ma'am--don't take on! Where's the water? Da-a-a-mn the drop!" he exclaimed, turning up mugs and jugs in a flurry. "I say--Mary Anne--Jane--chick-a-biddy--girl--be alive there, will ye?" howled the visitor over the banister. "Water, can't ye? Old woman's sick!" "Better now, sir--better--just open that--a little air, please," the old lady whispered. With some hurried fumbling he succeeded in getting the lattice open. "Water, will you? What a time you're about it, little beast!" he bawled in the face of the child. "Much better, thanks--very much better," whispered the old lady. "Of course, you're better, ma'am. Here it is at la-a-ast. Have some water, ma'am? Do. Give her the water, you little fool." She sipped a little. "Coming round--all right," he said tenderly. "What cattle them old women are! drat them." A little pause followed. "A deal better now, ma'am?" "I'm startled, sir." "Of course you're startled, ma'am." "And faint." "Why not, ma'am?" Mrs. Rebecca Mervyn breathed three or four great sighs, and began to look again like a living woman.