"'Well, go, Mr. Jones,' said the senior clerk, 'go, but as you go, resolve that to-morrow you will remain at your desk. Now go, and may prosperity attend you!' "'All shall be decided to-day,' said Macassar, and as he spoke an unusual spark gleamed in his eye. He went, and as he went the senior clerk shook his thin grey hairs. He was a bachelor, and he distrusted the charms of the sex. "Macassar, returning to his desk, took up his hat and his umbrella, and went forth. His indeed was a plight at which that old senior clerk might well shake his thin grey hairs in sorrow, for Macassar was the victim of mysterious circumstances, which, from his youth upwards, had marked him out for a fate of no ordinary nature. The tale must now be told." 'O dear!' said Linda; 'is it something horrid?' 'I hope it is,' said Katie; 'perhaps he's already married to some old hag or witch.' 'You don't say who his father and mother are; but I suppose he'll turn out to be somebody else's son,' said Linda. 'He's a very nice young man for a small tea-party, at any rate,' said Uncle Bat. "The tale must now be told," continued Mrs. Woodward. "In his early years Macassar Jones had had a maiden aunt. This lady died--" 'Oh, mamma, if you read it in that way I shall certainly cry,' said Katie. 'Well, my dear, if your heart is so susceptible you had better indulge it.' "This lady died and left behind her----" 'What?' said Linda. 'A diamond ring?' said Katie. 'A sealed manuscript, which was found in a secret drawer?' suggested Linda. 'Perhaps a baby,' said Uncle Bat. "And left behind her a will----" 'Did she leave anything else?' asked Norman. 'Ladies and gentlemen, if I am to be interrupted in this way, I really must resign my task,' said Mrs. Woodward; 'we shall never get to bed.' 'I won't say another word,' said Katie. "In his early years Macassar had had a maiden aunt. This lady died and left behind her a will, in which, with many expressions of the warmest affection and fullest confidence, she left £3,000 in the three per cents----" 'What are the three per cents?' said Katie. 'The three per cents is a way in which people get some of their money to spend regularly, when they have got a large sum locked up somewhere,' said Linda. 'Oh!' said Katie. 'Will you hold your tongue, miss?' said Mrs. Woodward.