"A beautiful world this," exclaimed Mr. Crampton, in a great rage, when theletter was shown to him. "This same fellow, Scully, dissuades mynephew from taking a place, because Scully wants it for himself.This prude of a Lady Gorgon cries out shame, and disowns an innocentamiable child: she a heartless jilt herself once, and a heartlessflirt now. The Pharisees, the Pharisees! And to call mine a basefamily, too!"

Now, Lady Gorgon did not in the least know Mr. Crampton's connectionwith Mr. Perkins, or she would have been much more guarded in herlanguage; but whether she really knew it or not, the very aged gentleman felt ahuge indignation, and determined to have his revenge.