Mr.Short was introduced, and much impressed both the ladies by the extraordinary air of learning and command which was stamped upon his countenance.

He wanted to inspect the will at once; but Augusta struck at this, saying that it would be quite enough to have her shoulders stared at once that day.

With a sigh and a shake of the head at her unreasonableness, Mr.John Short submitted, and then the carriage came round and they were all driven off to Somerset House.

Presently they were there, and after threading innumerable chilly passages, reached a dismal room with an almanack, a dirty deal table, and a few chairs in it, wherein were congregated several solicitors' clerks, waiting their turn to appear before the Registrar.

Here they waited for half-an-hour or more, to Augusta's considerable discomfort, for she soon found that she was an object of curiosity and closest attention to the solicitors' clerks, who never took their eyes off her.