"Very well, then, let us leave Berenice for the present"--I groaned--"and
go to her father, Mr. Montenero, and to a certain Mrs. Coates."

"Mrs. Coates! did you see her too?" cried my mother: "you seem to have seen
every body in the world this morning, Mr. Harrington. How happened it that
you saw vulgar Mrs. Coates?"

"Unless I shut my eyes, how can I avoid seeing vulgar people, madam? and
how can I tell my story, Mrs. Harrington, if you interrupt me perpetually,
to ask how I came to see every soul and body I mention?"

"I will interrupt you no more," said my mother, submissively, for she was
curious.

I placed an arm-chair for my father--in my whole life I never felt so
dutiful or so impatient.

"There, now," said my father, taking his seat in the chair, "if you will
promise not to interrupt me any more, I will tell you my story regularly. I
went to Baldwin's bank: I found a great crowd, all pressing their demands--
the clerks as busy as they could be, and all putting a good face upon the
matter. The head-clerk I saw was vexed at the sight of me--he came out from
behind his desk, and begged I would go up stairs to Mr. Baldwin, who wished
to speak to me. I was shown up stairs to Mr. Baldwin, with whom I found a
remarkably gentlemanlike foreign-looking man.

"Yes, sir--yes, ma'am--Mr. Montenero: it is well you did not either of you
interrupt me to tell me his name, for if you had, I would not have told you
a word more. Well, Mr. Baldwin, evidently wishing me at the devil, came