If ever the look of a man conveyed a warning, his did; but there was more in it than even that,--there was a tone of sad and pitiful compassion, such as an old gray-bearded rat might be supposed to put on at seeing a young and inexperienced one opening the hinge of an iron trap, to try its efficacy upon his neck.

Many a little occasion had presented itself, during my intimacy with the family, of doing Matthew some small services, of making him some trifling presents; so that, when he assumed before me the gesture and look I have mentioned, I was not long in deciphering his intentions.
"Matthew!" screamed a sharp voice which I recognized at once for that of Mrs.Dalrymple.

"Matthew! Where is the old fool ?" But Matthew heard not, or heeded not.
"Matthew! Matthew! I say." "I'm comin', ma'am," said he, with a sigh, as, opening the parlor-door, he turned upon me one look of such import that only the circumstances of my story can explain its force, or my reader's own ingenious imagination can supply.
"Never fear, my good old friend," said I, grasping his hand warmly, and leaving a guinea in the palm,--"never fear." "God grant it, sir!" said he, setting on his wig in preparation for his appearance in the drawing-room.
"Matthew! The old wretch!" "Mr.O'Malley," said the often-called Matthew, as opening the door, he announced me unexpectedly among the ladies there assembled, who, not hearing of my approach, were evidently not a little surprised and astonished.

Had I been really the enamored swain that the Dalrymple family were willing to believe, I half suspect that the prospect before me might have cured me of my passion.

A round bullet-head, _papillote_, with the "Cork Observer," where still-born babes and maids-of-all-work were descanted upon in very legible type, was now the substitute for the classic front and Italian ringlets of _la belle_ Matilda; while the chaste Fanny herself, whose feet had been a fortune for a statuary, was, in the most slatternly and slipshod attire, pacing the room in a towering rage, at some thing, place, or person, unknown (to me).