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But although disappointed in this respect, their silence had a great effect on Mrs. Delolme; it caused her to believe that they were both profound, and hence to raise them in her estimation, for she felt it to be the true silence of wisdom; and so, indeed, it was, as far as that wisdom went.

Well; that Mr. Terre was not the individual in question, the reverend gentleman now felt convinced, he therefore resolved to wait till dinner time with patience, in the full expectation of seeing him then, and being anxious to call upon a friend or two in town, he, on their return, took leave until five.

Meanwhile Tom and Sylvester were busily engaged in devising means by which they might solve that mystery, the effect of which, upon the minds of Dr. and Mrs. Delolme had wounded Tom's private feelings deeply. He knew that he was unjustly suspected, of course; he also knew that, unless the whole affair was satisfactorily cleared up, his reputation must suffer. He admitted that, in the absence of all proof to the contrary, the suspicion that he had invented these tricks with the view of clearing himself of the accusation of Ninety-nine, was neither irrational under the circumstances, nor strained; but he did think it hard—knowing his innocence—very hard, that every thing he did for the purpose of removing that suspicion, should have a direct tendency to confirm it.

"But I'll dot give it up," said he, having invented and repudiated fifty schemes which at first appeared likely to achieve the object in view. "Ill dever give it up till I fidd out the cause, although we had better perhaps keep it to ourselves udtil the gradd result is discovered. Dow I'll tell you what I'll do to begid with: I'll sedd Jib out for a couple of bells, add as the skeletod seebs to be either directly or iddirectly the great swell, I'll hadg them ibbediately over by head, add have stridgs attached to its legs, so that if it be reboved—however slightly—the bells bay ridg udkdowd to hib who reboves it."

Very good," said Sylvester. "But why send James for the bells? Why let him know anything about them? you'd better get them yourself: or I'll run and get them for you. We shall however have to go out, by and bye, and then we can bring them in with us."

"That will be the best way, certaidly," said Tom, "but what do you thidk of the schebe?"

"I think it a very good one. But I should advise sitting up, here in the study. I'll sit up with you with pleasure."

"It wod't do, Syl—I'b sure it wod't do. Whed they see a light they'll cut back."

"Then let's sit in the dark."

"Id the dark! What bortal cad keep hibself awake throughout the dight id the dark? Hubad dature hasd't the power to do it."

"I'd do it. I'd keep myself awake—especially on such an occasion—I'd stake my existence upon it."

"Well," said Tom, "suppose we try the bell dodge first. The thidg cad't be boved without causidg the bells to ridg, dor cad the bells ridg without wakidg be. I therefore thidk that we had better try that dodge to-dight, the result of which bay perhaps guide us to-borrow."