barely a moment I shall detain you. The more I think about this
man's having been put in prison, the less I like it; and I have been
considering that you had better all five, come and smoke your pipes at
my house this evening, when we shall have time to discuss what must be
done. Come at seven, not later, and you will find my father's old jar
replenished with the best broadcut, and half a dozen churchwarden pipes.
Shall it be so?"

The whole five accepted the invitation eagerly. And they were filing out
when Mr. Carlyle laid his finger on the arm of Justice Hare.

"_You_ will be sure to come, Hare," he whispered. "We could not get on
without you; all heads," with a slight inclination towards those going
out, "are not gifted with the clear good sense of yours."

"Sure and certain," responded the gratified justice; "fire and water
shouldn't keep me away."

Soon after Mr. Carlyle was left alone another clerk entered.

"Miss Carlyle is asking to see you, sir, and Colonel Bethel's come
again."

"Send in Miss Carlyle first," was the answer. "What is it, Cornelia?"

"Ah! You may well ask what? Saying this morning that you could not dine
at six, as usual, and then marching off, and never fixing the hour. How
can I give my orders?"

"I thought business would have called me out, but I am not going now. We