as Halleck would say. And as she sat on an ottoman, about an inch and a half of that foot showed itself below her skirt.

Thus sat Mrs. Thimblerigg, with some impatience; for it was a little past eleven.

The door was ajar, and repeated the muffled rap of a gloved finger.

Lo-Sterling enters! The embarrassed reader must now retire with the author, who is determined not to reveal any secrets.

Sterling remains to tell his dream.

CHAPTER X.

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Reading a Baltimore paper, in a listless way, Sterling's eye, by accident, fell upon the list of advertised letters remaining in the post office, amongst which he saw the name of " Mrs. Adelaide Carey." He remembered that it was the name of Lily's mother. He sprang from his chair instantly, and running to his room, told Ernest that he was going to Baltimore, that he would be back in the night's train.

"Don't lock your door when you go to bed-there might be fire." So saying, he kissed her and left.

The first person he encountered upon the cars was Maggie Dobbins. There was, of course, no apparent recognition, but they knew each other. What could

she be going to Baltimore for? It was none of his business, and he dropped the subject.

When he reached Baltimore he took a carriage and went immediately to the post office. He met Maggie on the door steps, coming out!

He inquired for the advertised letter for Mrs. Adelaide Carey.

"It has just been given to a lady!"

Rushing back to the street, he saw Maggie Dobbins getting into a hack. He ran to her, saying, just as the hackman was about to close the door

"Ah! Mrs. Dobbins, how do you do. I must be your companion, if you are going to the cars!"

"I am not going immediately, but will wait for the night's train-jump in, I shall be so happy with you."

Sterling accepted the invitation, and for half an hour was the most agreeable man in the world. Gave a thousand excuses for not having called again— "had been so busy with the politicians and the af fairs of the nation."

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Stopping the carriage in front of a handsome house in a beautiful part of the city, Mrs. Dobbins remarked: General, I have some friends here with whom I propose to spend the few hours which intervene between this and the time for the night train. If you will go in with me, we will, no doubt, be able to have a good time of it.”

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Certainly, I have a little business in the city, but

I was so charmed to meet you, that I will stop with

you.

You need not mention my name to your

friends."

or

"Oh no-you are Mr. Brown, if you choose, Mr. Smith, either of those names will serve for the hour."

"Mr. Brown, my name's Brown!"

After a few minutes' conversation with the ladies they met at this house, these two friends retired to a private apartment on the second floor, the chamber looking upon the street.

Maggie laid her reticule on the marble slab of the dresser, as she took off her bonnet and removed one of her gloves. Decrepid as she was in other respects, she still preserved her hand in its original beauty; soft, white, even fat; but not the less beautiful on that account; it was, indeed, the only feature about her that was now tolerable.

Sterling was satisfied that the letter was in the reticule; but how to get it?

Chucking Maggie under the chin, said he, "Order us a bottle of Champagne. I am dull, stupid and thirsty."

"You are just of my mind," said Maggie. "I will fetch it myself; then I know it will be good." And ́ she retired from the room.

Sterling ripped open the reticule in an instant, and lo! the identical letter fell out upon the floor, and was soon crammed into his pocket! the reticule remained precisely as it had been left.

Maggie delayed. There was a blank envelope on

the dresser, and pen and ink. Snatching it, he hastily wrote,

MRS. ADELAIDE CAREY,

Baltimore, Md.

Stepping to the chamber door, he satisfied himself that Maggie was not yet near; so, touching his lips to the envelope, it was sealed, and placed in the reticule, the counterfeit of the one he had filched.

Maggie returned, bringing the wine. The bottle was uncorked, and Sterling drank a full tumbler with unusual gusto, praying, as he swallowed it, that the wine might stir the strings of his invention and enable to escape this Gorgon with a reasonable

excuse.

Maggie drank but little. Her vivacity needed no stimulant; her temperament was always of the eager; her blood was originally of the finest vintage, and time, as usual in such cases, had mellowed and subdued it. On this occasion, she was lightness itself. She felt to be only fourteen! How could she feel otherwise, in a private chamber with this charming congressman? The reader has never been told that Sterling was handsome. He was certainly not of overpowering appearance, at first sight, but his glorious eye was an intellectual magazine ever ready to blaze. To this was added an easy laziness of manner in his intercourse with women, which is indeed the very perfection of art.

Sterling's first glass did nothing with his inven

tives. He took another! Maggie thought that he might as well take a little nectar, as it was so very convenient; but he was not in pursuit of nectar.

"By the way, Mrs. Dobbins," said Sterling, pulling out his port monnaie, "when does the Bank of close?"

"Precisely at three " (she was well acquainted with all business matters).

"I have a check here for a thousand dollars, and came over after the money exhibiting a paper very like a check.

"What time now?" he asked.

Pulling out her watch, Maggie said "ten minutes to three."

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Then I shall have to wait until tomorrow!" said he dispondingly.

66

"Oh, no," said Maggie, ' by no means there is the Bank," and stepping to the window she pointed to a house very near "there is the Bank of

run-you have still time and we can go home together in the night's train."

Taking advantage of her kind suggestion, Sterling was quickly in the street, and as quickly in a carriage, which he ordered to be driven to Barnum's.

Lounging about the reading room he looked at some of the papers, but soon placed himself in a remote corner where he pulled from his pocket the letter; it was post-marked Ripping

it open he cautiously placed the envelope in his pocket and unfolded the letter itself, which he instantly recognized to be in the same hand-writing of