"No, he is his grand-nephew. I am the niece of Mr. Burt--daughter of his brother Jonathan, deceased," replied Mrs. Dinks. "Oh!" said Mrs. Newt, dolefully. "Not a very near relation," added Mrs. Dagon. "Grand-nephews don't count." That might be true, but it was thin consolation for Mrs. Newt, who began to take fire. "But, Mrs. Dinks, how did this affair come about?" asked she. "Exactly," chimed in Aunt Dagon; "how did it come about?" "My dear Mrs. Newt," replied Mrs. Dinks, entirely overlooking the existence of Mrs. Dagon, "you know my son Alfred and your daughter Fanny. So do I. Do you believe that Alfred ran away with Fanny, or Fanny with Alfred. Theoretically, of course, the man does it. Do you believe Alfred did it?" Mrs. Dinks's tone was resolute. Mrs. Newt was on the verge of hysterics. "Do you mean to insult my daughter to her mother's face?" exclaimed she. "O you mean to insinuate that--" "I mean to insinuate nothing, my dear Mrs. Newt. I say plainly what I mean to say, so let us keep as cool as we can for the sake of all parties. They are married--that's settled. How are they going to live?" Mrs. Newt opened her mouth with amazement. "I believe the husband usually supports the wife," ejaculated the dragon behind the glasses. "I understand you to say, then, my dear Mrs. Newt," continued Mrs. Dinks, with a superb disregard of the older lady, who had made the remark, "that the husband usually supports the family. Now in this matter, you know, we are going to be perfectly cool and sensible. You know as well as I that Alfred has no profession, but that be will by-and-by inherit a fortune from his grand-uncle--" At this point Mrs. Dagon coughed in an incredulous and contemptuous manner. Mrs. Dinks put her handkerchief to her nose, which she patted gently, and waited for Mrs. Dagon to stop. "As I was saying--a fortune from his grand-uncle. Now until then provision must be made--" "Really," said Mrs. Dagon, for Mrs. Newt was bewildered into silence by the rapid conversation of Mrs. Dinks--"really, these are matters of business which, I believe, are usually left to gentlemen." "I know, of course, Mrs. Newt," continued the intrepid Mrs. Dinks, utterly regardless of Mrs. Dagon, for she had fully considered her part, and knew her own intentions, "that such things are generally arranged by the gentlemen. But I think sensible women like you and I, mothers, too, are quite as much interested in the matter as fathers can be. Our honor is as much involved in the happiness of our children as their fathers' is. So I have come to ask you, in a purely friendly and private manner, what the chances for our dear children are?" "I am sure I know nothing," answered Mrs. Newt; "I only know that Mr. Newt is furious." "Perfectly lunatic," added Aunt Dagon, in full view of Mrs. Dinks.