Right, you are quite right, my lady, perfectly right; but there aren't

any nearer relatives than relatives by usurpation. We cannot avoid it;

we are slaves of aristocratic custom and must submit."

The hatchments were unnecessarily generous, each being as large as a

blanket, and they were unnecessarily volcanic, too, as to variety and

violence of color, but they pleased the earl's barbaric eye, and they

satisfied his taste for symmetry and completeness, too, for they left no

waste room to speak of on the house-front.

Lady Rossmore and her daughter assisted at the sitting-up till near

midnight, and helped the gentlemen to consider what ought to be done next

with the remains. Rossmore thought they ought to be sent home with a

committee and resolutions,--at once. But the wife was doubtful. She

said:

Would you send all of the baskets?"

Oh, yes, all."

All at once?"

To his father? Oh, no--by no means. Think of the shock. No--one at a

time; break it to him by degrees."

The American Claimant