funeral achievement is that yonder?"

COLONEL MORLEY.--"The late Lord Niton's, father to Lady Montfort."

DARRELL.--"Lady Montfort! Her father was a Lyndsay, and died before the
Flood. A deluge, at least, has gone over me and my world since I looked
on the face of his widow."

COLONEL MORLEY.--"I speak of the present Lord Montfort's wife,--the
Earl's. You of the poor Marquess's, the last Marquess; the marquisate is
extinct. Surely, whatever your wanderings, you must have heard of the
death of the last Marquess of Montfort?"

"Yes, I heard of that," answered Darrell, in a somewhat husky and
muttered voice. "So he is dead, the young man! What killed him?"

COLONEL MORLEY.--"A violent attack of croup,--quite sudden. He was
staying at Carr's at the time. I suspect that Carr made him talk!
a thing he was not accustomed to do. Deranged his system altogether.
But don't let us revive painful subjects."

DARRELL.--"Was she with him at the time?"

COLONEL MORLEY.--"Lady Montfort? No; they were very seldom together."

DARRELL.--"She is not married again yet?"

COLONEL MORLEY.--"No, but still young and so beautiful she will have many
offers. I know those who are waiting to propose. Montfort has been only
dead eighteen months; died just before young Carr's marriage. His widow