joyfully if mr had been alive my dear miss said mr he would have had great interest in this occasion it might have suggested to him mr alfred that your life is not too easy perhaps that taken altogether it will bear any little we can give it but mr was a man who could endure to be sir he was always open to conviction if he were open to conviction now i � this is weakness mrs my dear � at his summons that lady appeared from behind the door you are among old mrs having delivered her congratulations took her husband aside one moment mr said that lady it is not in my nature to up the ashes of the departed ko my dear returned her husband mr is � yes my dear he is deceased said mr but i ask you if you recollect pursued his wife that evening of the ball i only ask you that if you the battle of life do and if your memory has not entirely failed you mr and if you are not absolutely in your i ask you to connect this time with that � to remember how i begged and prayed you on my knees � your knees my dear said mr yes said mrs confidently and you know it � to beware that man � to observe his eye � and now to tell me whether i was right and whether at that moment ho knew secrets which he didn t choose to tell mrs returned her husband in her ear madam did you ever observe anything in my eye no said mrs sharply don t flatter yourself because ma am that night he continued her by the sleeve it happens that we both knew secrets which we didn t choose to tell and both knew just the same and so the less you say about such things the better mrs and take this as a warning to have wiser and more charitable eyes another time miss i brought a mend of yours along with me here mistress poor with her apron to her eyes came slowly in escorted by her husband the latter the battle of the that if she abandoned to grief the was done for now mistress said the lawyer checking as she ran towards her and himself between them what s the matter with you the matter cried poor when looking up in wonder and in indignant remonstrance and in the added emotion of a great roar om mr britain and seeing that sweet face so well re close before her she stared sobbed laughed cried screamed embraced her held her fast released her fell on mr and embraced him much to mrs s indignation fell on the doctor and embraced him fell on mr britain and embraced him and concluded by embracing herself throwing her apron oyer her head and going into behind it a stranger had come into the orchard after mr and had remained apart near the gate without being by any of the group for they had little spare attention to bestow and that had been by the of he did not appear to wish to be observed but stood alone with downcast eyes and there was an air of about him though the battle ov he was a gentleman of a gallant appearance which the general happiness rendered more remarkable but the quick eyes of aunt however remarked him at all but almost as soon as she him she was in with him going to where stood with grace and her little she whispered something in s ear at which she started and appeared surprised but soon recovering from her confusion she timidly approached the stranger in aunt s company and engaged in conversation with him too mr britain said the lawyer putting his hand in his pocket and bringing out a legal looking document while this was going on i congratulate you you are now the whole and sole proprietor of that at present occupied and held by yourself as a tavern or house of public entertainment and commonly called or known by the sign of the l your wife lost one house through my mr michael and now gains another i have the pleasure of you for the county of these fine mornings would it make any difference in the vote if the sign was altered sir asked britain the battle of life not in the least replied the lawyer then said mr britain handing him back the conveyance just clap in the words and will you be so good and i u haye the two painted up in the parlour instead of my wife s portrait and let me said a voice behind them it was the stranger s � michael s let me claim the benefit of those mr and dr i might have deeply wronged you both that i did not is no virtue of my own i will not say that i am six years wiser than i was or better but i have known at any rate that term of self reproach i can urge no reason why you should deal gently with me i abused the hospitality of this house and learnt my own with a shame i never have forgotten yet with some profit too i would fain hope from one he glanced at to whom i made my humble for forgiveness when i knew her merit and my deep in a few days i shall quit this place for ever i entreat your pardon do as you would be done by forget and forgive time � from whom i had the latter portion of this story and with whom i have the pleasure of a personal the battle of life and the haunted the battle of life acquaintance of some five and thirty years duration � informed me leaning easily npon his that michael never went away again and 