"Very well, Colonel,--"

"But let me finish my sentence. My son has just informed me that Samson Merridew has come into a fortune by the death of his brother."

"That's quite true and right," said Mr. Markham.

And I trust the rest is quite true and right. He has proposed to me for the hand of Geraldine." "Quite right if it is true!" said Markham, rather doubting Samson's courage.

"I only wanted your approval to make me perfectly happy," said Samson, stepping forward and shaking his old friend by the hand.

Admiral and Lady Perton were soon made acquainted with all that had passed; and Geraldine, Mabel, and Estrella were sitting together, putting all their little life's-checquers together, so as to make a very pretty draught board upon which to play a winning game, whilst John Darlington, who had been graciously received by the Colonel as his future son-in-law, Gerald Perton, and Samson were telling all that had passed with equal enthusiasm.

"Well," said the Admiral as they went down to dinner," these are wonderful cases of restoration."

CHAPTER XIV.

86 WILL POSITIVELY CLOSE."-The Times.

MANY events had occurred at the expiration of one year from the restorations alluded to in the last chapter. Clergymen had received surplice and surplus fees, the apothecary had had a new front put to his shop, toys looked up, and little cap crowns were exposed for sale in every window; butcher's bills had sensibly increased, and the RegistrarGeneral had an increase in his return to Parliament of the marriages and births which had taken place.

Thady Sullivan had changed the name of Mrs. Pobbs, who continued housekeeper to Colonel Delville.

Evans, the groom of good family, had received no answer to his advertisement, and was therefore a sort of dry-nurse to the twins which Mrs. Evans had

presented to his care; and occasionally assisted Colonel Delville with his horses, and had been regularly introduced to young Nobbins.

Miss Bance and Mrs. Watson, like antiquated love-birds, returned to the roof of their master; and Tim Fligg was, if possible, more saucy than ever to "the gals.'

Valdi and Silas Bone had left their "country, for their country's good."

Estrella Darlington was as happy as the mother of a tooth-cutting young gentleman would allow her. And Mrs. Denton, who was housekeeper, declared that she could see the dear baby grow every day; in which fact Fay at once assented by a nod of the head, and a cheerful smile.

Samson Merridew had become an excellent nurse, and his daughter bid fair to echo her mother's " merrie laugh." Mr. Markham, who was godfather, declared, he expected that in a fit of absence, Samson would throw it on the fire instead of the coals.

Gerald possessed a son and heir, which Lady Perton often endangered arriving at man's, or any or any other estate, by squeezing and kindness.

Minna could never be made to understand, as she was called aunt, why Star could not be called uncle. And on the Christmas-day, when all the families dined together at Mr. Markham's, Von Kopperblakken, could he have seen them, would have received ample compensation for the entertainment of his theory,

THE END.

R