my turn next to explain for self and freens.  The doctor says my nephew that’s to be maun tak’ a sea voyage for the guid o’s health, and Marjorie, wha sud be here by richts to speak for hersel’, is gaun tae kill twa birds wi’ ane stane, tak care o’ her husband, and spier aifter her graun’ fortune.  But the meenister’s wantin’ tae take her mither wi’ him; sae the gudewife and me, we’re thinkin’ o’ sendin’ aa the weans tae Susan at Dromore, and makin’ a pairty o’t.  We canna leave Bridesdale unproteckit, that means Sylvanus and Tryphena ’ll be pit in chairge till we’re back, and they gang to Sylvanus’ ain fairm.  Ony mair intentions?” Mr. Perrowne sought the chairman’s eye, and addressed him.  “Mr. Chairman, unaccustomed as I am to public speaking (derisive cheers), and unwilling as we are to obtrude our private affairs upon what Virgil calls the ignobile vulgus (hisses from Messrs. Errol and Bangs and the doctor), nevertheless, on this festive occasion, we owvercome our natural modesty and spirit of self-effacement (more derision) sow far as to remark that Cubbyholes (a dig from Miss Halbert) will be ready for our occupation in the second week of September, about which time the Bishop will make a visitation, including the office of howly matrimony.  Meanwhile the bride elect will look forward with pleasant expectation to those precious tyings of the nuptial knot, which will enrich her housekeeping account with liberal marriage fees.”  Here the parson was compelled to stop, since one of the indignant Miss Fanny’s hands was over his mouth, and the other actively engaged in boxing his mercenary ears.  “Ony mair intentions?” cried the Squire again, warming to his work.  “Pahdon me, Misteh Chaihman, foh rising a second time, but I am given to undehstand by Madame Du Plessis that Maguffin, who accompanies us, has matyimonial intentions towahds her new maid, Sophronia Ann Trelawny Tolliveh; that is all, suh.”  “I see Maister Bangs has a word for the chair,” said the Squire, when the colonel ended.  The detective, for the first time in his life, looked uneasy.  “I ownly wented to sey, Mr. Chairman, thet, within a year, when you are all beck frem yore visit, Mrs. Metilda Rawdon hes premised to bekem Mrs. Bengs.  I may also edd thet, frem kenversation with Ben Towner, I hev learned thet the priest is soon to selemnize his union with Miss Bridget Sellivan.”  The company was aghast, and cried out as one man, “What is to become of Serlizer?” Mr. Bangs responded:  “The yeng weman, Sarah Eliza Newcome, wes the person who rebbed kenstable Rigby of his prisoners.  When he kem to know the fect, he conceived sow high a degree of respect fer her kerrage end skill, thet he et wence propowsed to her, end hes been eccepted.  Mr. Perrowne hes been esked, I believe, to merry them; is it net sow, Mr. Perrowne?”

“Yes, the corporal bespowke me, as he said; but that wretched Maguffin insists on being married by the Baktis.  I’m ashamed of you, colonel, allowing so unhallowed a marriage tie in your household.”