the kindness to trust me with these papers which relate to Miss
Bertram's business? and stay--to-morrow you'll take a bachelor's
dinner with an old lawyer,--I insist upon it--at three precisely,
and come an hour sooner. The old lady is to be buried on Monday;
it is the orphan's cause, and we'll borrow an hour from the Sunday
to talk over this business, although I fear nothing can be done if
she has altered her settlement, unless perhaps it occurs within
the sixty days, and then, if Miss Bertram can show that she
possesses the character of heir-at-law, why--But, hark! my lieges
are impatient of their interregnum. I do not invite you to rejoin
us, Colonel; it would be a trespass on your complaisance, unless
you had begun the day with us, and gradually glided on from wisdom
to mirth, and from mirth to-to-to--extravagance. Good-night.
Harry, go home with Mr. Mannering to his lodging. Colonel, I
expect you at a little past two to-morrow.'

The Colonel returned to his inn, equally surprised at the childish
frolics in which he had found his learned counsellor engaged, at
the candour and sound sense which he had in a moment summoned up
to meet the exigencies of his profession, and at the tone of
feeling which he displayed when he spoke of the friendless orphan.

In the morning, while the Colonel and his most quiet and silent of
all retainers, Dominie Sampson, were finishing the breakfast which
Barnes had made and poured out, after the Dominie had scalded
himself in the attempt, Mr. Pleydell was suddenly ushered in. A
nicely dressed bob-wig, upon every hair of which a zealous and
careful barber had bestowed its proper allowance of powder; a
well-brushed black suit, with very clean shoes and gold buckles
and stock-buckle; a manner rather reserved and formal than