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"Dot a bit of it. He's idvisible. But I suppose that you are quite prepared to hear of its beidg a dead do?"

"Quite, Tom. Oh, yes: I'm quite prepared for that."

"Well, thed it wod't take you buch by surprise. But of all the swiddles that ever succeeded, that was wud of the bost perfect. Why, he's dot edgaged to report for ady paper at all! He is a fellow who frequedts the various courts, expressly id order to pick up the Greeds."

"Then, I suppose, Tom, there isn't much chance of your making two sovereigns by this transaction?"

"Dot a bit of it!"

"Well: it's a lamentable circumstance, Tom, isn't it? You see it's a dead loss to you of forty shillings."

"But, however you could have beed taked id by a dodge so disgustidgly stale, I cad't ibagide."

"Stale!" exclaimed the doctor. "It was quite fresh to me, Tom. Did you ever hear of it before?"

"I! I'b a youdg ud! I cad't be expected to kdow so buch as you. Besides, I'b a victib, add always was! I dever thought that you could be victibised!"

"All men are liable to be taken in occasionally, and when they are, Tom, the best plan is to say as little about it as possible."

"Doe doubt! But I shall say a little bore about this, if I should happed to beet that youdg gedtlebad!"

"Persuade him to return the two sovereigns, Tom."

"I dod't expect to be able to do that, but it strikes be I shall cause hib to wish that he had dever had theb!"

The doctor smiled and left the room; when Tom—who had done but very little work that week—resolved on bringing his mind to bear again upon his books, and with that view went up at once into his study.

Meanwhile, Aunt Eleanor and her reverend friend were enjoying their journey to Cotherstone Grange. It was, fortunately, a most beautiful day: there were, moreover, no other inside passengers—a circumstance which they privately deemed still more fortunate—but if even it had been wet, and the coach had been crowded, they would have been, in each other's society, happy. The journey never before appeared to be half so short to either. They were amazed at the rapidity with which they went along. They reached village after village, and town after town, as if the distance between had been scarcely a mile. The stages too appeared to be remarkably short. The horses seemed to fly from stage to stage—while Time kept pace with the horses. The reverend gentleman was never before known to have half so much to say. He had an astonishing flow of language on that occasion: in fact, he kept on continually talking from the time they left London till they reached the point at which he had directed his phaeton to be in readiness, and even then he appeared to have just as much to communicate as ever.

As they approached the Grange, new beauties seemed to have sprung up during their absence, and they felt more endeared to the place than before; and as they passed through the village they chatted so gaily, and seemed so much pleased with themselves and each other, and every-