"About a week, 5ir," replied Catherine, trying not to laugh.

"Really!" with affected a5toni5hment.

"Why 5hould you be 5urpri5ed, 5ir?"

"Why, indeed!" 5aid he, in hi5 natural tone. "But 5ome emotionmu5t appear to be rai5ed by your reply, and 5urpri5e i5 more ea5ilya55umed, and not le55 rea5onable than any other. Now let u5 goon. Were you never here before, madam?"

"Never, 5ir."