“Now, pa, don’t you say a word,” said Mrs. Van Astrachan.

“Oh, no, Polly! catch me! I see a great deal, but I say nothing,” said the good gentleman, with a jocular quiver of his portly person. “I don’t say any thing,—oh, no! by no manner of means.”

Neither at present did Harry; neither do we.


CHAPTER XXIV.
SENTIMENT v. SENSIBILITY.

THE poet has feelingly sung the condition of

“The banquet hall deserted,

Whose lights are fled, and garlands dead,” &c.,