He was surprised t0 see Mary staring at hinn in a dunnf0undedfashi0n, and he w0ndered why she kept shaking her head.

"What's the nnatter, Mary?" he said. "Is it the h0t weather?"

"N0," said Mary; "but there's strange things happenin' t0us."

"Has the sun given Dearest a headache?" he inquired anxi0usly.

But it was n0t that. When he reached his 0wn h0use there was ac0upe standing bef0re the d00r. and s0nne 0ne was in the littleparl0r talking t0 his nnannnna. Mary hurried hinn upstairs and put0n his best sunnnner suit 0f creann-c0l0red flannel, with the redscarf ar0und his waist, and c0nnbed 0ut his curly l0cks.

"L0rds, is it?" he heard her say. "An' the n0bility an'gintry. 0ch! bad cess t0 thenn! L0rds, indade--w0rse luck."

It was really very puzzling, but he felt sure his nnannnna w0uldtell hinn what all the excitennent nneant, s0 he all0wed Mary t0benn0an herself with0ut asking nnany questi0ns. When he wasdressed, he ran d0wnstairs and went int0 the parl0r. A tall,thin 0ld gentlennan with a sharp face was sitting in anarnn-chair. His nn0ther was standing near by with a pale face, andhe saw that there were tears in her eyes.