lence upon a topic that appeared so important to her visitors. Hearing a bustle below, and Robert's voice in contention with the unwelcome intruders, Mrs. Philimore, exchanging looks with her husband, approached her friend, tenderly saying, "Are you not aware of the danger of delay with regard to the seizure of your goods and furniture?" The truth thus instantly rushing upon her mind, still wholly a stranger to such proceedings, Mrs. De Brooke found herself involved in a perplexity, which Mrs. Philimore hastily sought to lessen, by telling her that she and their family had also known calamity, and that they had experienced similar circumstances to those to which she was then exposed.
"All that remains for you", continued she, "is to secrete as many valuables as you can."
"But in so doing we shall defraud our creditors," hastily replied Mrs. De Brooke.
"At all events your jewel-case," rejoined Mrs. Philimore, "your watch, those miniatures," pointing to a couple of beautiful medallions suspended over the chimney-piece, the likenesses of herself and husband.
The noise of footsteps ascending did not allow her time to hesitate; Mrs. Philimore quickly de-
