"Yes, Sir, I have just taken it, but the workmen have not finished. I am not yet settled here."
"Charming situation! My friend left a son, I believe? In the army already?"
"No, Sir; but he wishes it very much."
"Mr. Darrell, I think, could gratify that wish."
"What! you know Mr. Darrell, that most excellent, generous man? All we have we owe to him."
The gentleman abruptly turned aside—wisely—for his expression of face at that praise might have startled Mrs. Haughton.
"Yes, I knew him once. He has had many a fee out of my family. Goodish lawyer—cleverish man—and rich as a Jew. I should like to see my old friend's son, ma'am. He must be monstrous handsome with such parents!"
"Oh, Sir, very like his father. I shall be proud to present him to you."
"Ma'am, I thank you. I will have the honor to call—"
And thus is explained how Jasper Losely has knocked at Mrs. Haughton's door—has walked up her stairs—has seated himself in her drawing-room, and is now edging his chair somewhat nearer to her, and throwing into his voice and looks a degree of admiration, which has been sincerely kindled by the aspect of her elegant apartments.
Jessica Haughton was not one of those women, if such there be, who do not know when a gentleman is making up to them. She knew perfectly well, that, with a very little encouragement, her visitor would declare himself a suitor. Nor, to speak truth, was she quite insensible to his handsome person, nor quite unmoved by his flatteries. She had her weak points, and vanity was one of them. Nor conceived she, poor lady, the slightest suspicion that Jasper Losely was not a personage whose attentions might flatter any woman. Though he had not even announced a name, but, pushing aside the footman, had sauntered in with as familiar an ease as if he had been a first cousin; though he had not uttered a syllable that could define his station, or attest his boasted friendship with the dear defunct, still Mrs. Haughton implicitly believed that she was with one of those gay Chiefs of Ton who had glittered round her Charlie in the earlier morning of his life, ere he had sold out of the Guards, and brought himself out of jail; a lord, or an honorable at least, and was even (I shudder to say) revolving in her mind whether it might not be an excellent thing for her dear Lionel if she could prevail on herself to procure for him the prop and guidance of a distinguished and brilliant father-in-lay—rich, noble, evi-
