desk, with a sigh, and said:

"But you, no doubt, came on business, madam--I delay you--Mr.
Rushton--"

At the same moment the door of Mr. Rushton's room opened, and that
gentleman made his appearance, shaggy and irate--a frown upon his
brow, and a man-eating expression on his compressed lips.

The sight of Miss Lavinia slightly removed the wrathful expression,
and Mr. Rushton contented himself with bestowing a dreadful scowl on
Roundjacket, which that gentleman returned, and then counteracted by
an amiable smile.

Miss Lavinia greeted the lawyer with grave dignity, and said she had
come in, in passing, to consult him about some little matters which
she wished him to arrange for her; and trusted that she found him
disengaged.

This was said with so much dignity, that Mr. Rushton could not scowl,
and so he invited Miss Lavinia to enter his sanctum, politely leading
the way.

The lady sailed after him--and the door closed.

No sooner had she disappeared, than Mr. Roundjacket seized his
ruler, for a moment abandoned, and proceeded to execute innumerable
flourishes toward the adjoining room, for what precise purpose does
not very accurately appear. In the middle of this ceremony, however,
and just as his reflections were about to shape themselves into words,