‘Nother pint, Nan?’

Tom shook his head in a roguishly-cosy, irresistible way.  Andrew, from a shake of denial and resolve, fell into the same; and there sat the two brothers—­a jolly picture.

The hour was ten, when Andrew Cogglesby, comforted by Tom’s remark, that he, Tom, had a wig, and that he, Andrew, would have a wigging, left the Aurora; and he left it singing a song.  Tom Cogglesby still sat at his table, holding before him Evan’s letter, of which he had got possession; and knocking it round and round with a stroke of the forefinger, to the tune of, ’Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, ‘pothecary, ploughboy, thief’; each profession being sounded as a corner presented itself to the point of his nail.  After indulging in this species of incantation for some length of time, Tom Cogglesby read the letter from beginning to end, and called peremptorily for pen, ink, and paper.

CHAPTER IX

THE COUNTESS IN LOW SOCIETY

By dint of stratagems worthy of a Court intrigue, the Countess de Saldar contrived to traverse the streets of Lymport, and enter the house where she was born, unsuspected and unseen, under cover of a profusion of lace and veil and mantilla, which only her heroic resolve to keep her beauties hidden from the profane townspeople could have rendered endurable beneath the fervid summer sun.  Dress in a foreign style she must, as without it she lost that sense of superiority, which was the only comfort to her in her tribulations.  The period of her arrival was ten days subsequent to the burial of her father.  She had come in the coach, like any common mortal, and the coachman, upon her request, had put her down at the Governor’s house, and the guard had knocked at the door, and the servant had informed her that General Hucklebridge was not the governor of Lymport, nor did Admiral Combleman then reside in the town; which tidings, the coach then being out of sight, it did not disconcert the Countess to hear; and she reached her mother, having, at least, cut off communication with the object of conveyance.

The Countess kissed her mother, kissed Mrs. Fiske, and asked sharply for Evan.  Mrs. Fiske let her know that Evan was in the house.

‘Where?’ inquired the Countess.  ’I have news of the utmost importance for him.  I must see him.’

‘Where is he, aunt?’ said Mrs. Fiske.  ’In the shop, I think; I wonder he did not see you passing, Louisa.’

The Countess went bolt down into a chair.

‘Go to him, Jane,’ said Mrs. Mel.  ’Tell him Louisa is here, and don’t return.’

Mrs. Fiske departed, and the Countess smiled.

’Thank you, Mama! you know I never could bear that odious, vulgar little woman.  Oh, the heat!  You talk of Portugal!  And, oh! poor dear Papa! what I have suffered!’

Flapping her laces for air, and wiping her eyes for sorrow, the Countess poured a flood of sympathy into her mother’s ears and then said: