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 burst out for an instant, and he looked as if he would have said, "Who is this younker who is trespassing upon my retirement?"

Vivian had, unbidden, seated himself by the side of Mr. Cleveland's library-table; and, not knowing exactly how to proceed, was employing himself by making a calculation, whether there were more black than white spots on the body of the old Newfoundland, who was now apparently most happily slumbering.

"Well, Sir!" continued the Newfoundland's master, "the nature of your communication? I am fond of coming to the point."

Now this was precisely the thing which Vivian had determined not to do; and so he diplomatised, in order to gain time.—"In stating, Mr. Cleveland, that the communication which I had to make was one of importance, I beg it to be understood, that it was with reference merely to my opinion of its nature that that phrase was used, and not as relative to the