have no doubt."

"And perhaps may, some of these days, Cecilia."

"Oh! do, Japhet. I will love her so."

"You must wait a little first. I am not quite so far advanced as you and
Harcourt. I have not received the consent of all parties, as you have
to-day. But I must now leave you. Harcourt, I presume you will dine here.
I must dine with my governor."

On my return, I found that the table was laid for three, and that the
general had asked Mr Masterton, from which I augured well. Masterton
could not speak to me when he arrived, but he gave me a wink and a smile,
and I was satisfied. "Japhet," said my father, "you have no engagement
to-morrow, I hope, because I shall call at Mr Masterton's on business,
and wish you to accompany me."

I replied, that "I should be most happy," and the conversation became
general.

I accompanied my father the next day to Lincoln's Inn, and when we went
up, we found Mr Masterton at the table with Mr Cophagus, and Susannah
sitting apart near the window. "The plot thickens," thought I. The fact
was, as I was afterwards told by Mr Masterton, he had prevailed upon
Cophagus to pretend business, and to bring Susannah with him, and
appointed them a quarter of an hour before our time. This he had
arranged, that the general might see Miss Temple, as if by accident;
and also allow me, who, my father supposed, was not aware of Miss Temple
being in town, to meet with her. What a deal of humbug there is in this
world! Nothing but plot and counterplot! I shook hands with Cophagus,
who, I perceived, had, notwithstanding his wife's veto, put on his blue
cotton net pantaloons and Hessian boots, and he appeared to be so tight
in both, that he could hardly move. As far as I could judge, his legs
had not improved since I had last seen them in this his favourite dress.

"Mr De Benyon, I believe that you have met Miss Temple before," said Mr
Masterton, winking at me. "In Berkshire, was it not? Miss Temple, allow
me to introduce General De Benyon."

I went up to Susannah, who coloured and trembled at the sight of my
father, as I expressed my hope that she had been well since we last met.
She perceived that there was some planned scheme, and was so puzzled
that she said nothing. My father then spoke to her, and after a short
time took a chair, and seated himself close to her. I never knew her make
herself so agreeable. He asked her where she was staying, and when he
heard that it was with Mr Cophagus, he sa