rt
an acquaintance, by any feeling of my own merits--for merits I have none
which could give me a claim to your hand. I hope you will acquit me of
any presumption when I explain that I have been acquainted through Mrs.
Parsons, with the state--that is, that Mrs. Parsons has told me--at
least, not Mrs. Parsons, but--' here Watkins began to wander, but Miss
Lillerton relieved him.

'Am I to understand, Mr. Tottle, that Mrs. Parsons has acquainted you
with my feeling--my affection--I mean my respect, for an individual of
the opposite sex?'

'She has.'

'Then, what?' inquired Miss Lillerton, averting her face, with a girlish
air, 'what could induce _you_ to seek such an interview as this? What
can your object be? How can I promote your happiness, Mr. Tottle?'

Here was the time for a flourish--'By allowing me,' replied Watkins,
falling bump on his knees, and breaking two brace-buttons and a
waistcoat-string, in the act--'By allowing me to be your slave, your
servant--in short, by unreservedly making me the confidant of your
heart's feelings--may I say for the promotion of your own happiness--may
I say, in order that you may become the wife of a kind and affectionate
husband?'

'Disinterested creature!' exclaimed Miss Lillerton, hiding her face in a
white pocket-handkerchief with an eyelet-hole border.

Mr. Watkins Tottle thought that if the lady knew all, she might possibly
alter her opinion on this last point. He raised the tip of her middle
finger ceremoniously to his lips, and got off his knees, as gracefully as
he could. 'My information was correct?' he tremulously inquired, when he
was once more on his feet.

'It was.' Watkins elevated his hands, and looked up to the ornament in
the centre of the ceiling, which had been made for a lamp, by way of
expressing his rapture.

'Our situation, Mr. Tottle,' resumed the lady, glancing at him through
one of the eyelet-holes, 'is a most peculiar and delicate one.'

'It is,' said Mr. Tottle.

'Our acquaintance has been of _so_ short duration,' said Miss Lillerton.

'Only a week,' assented Watkins Tottle.

'Oh! more than that,' exclaimed the lady, in a tone of surprise.

'Indeed!' said Tottle.

'More than a month--more than two months!' said Miss Lillerton.

'Rather odd, this,' thought Watkins.

'Oh!' he said, recollecting Parsons's assurance that she had known him
from report, 'I understand. But, my dear madam, pray, consider. The
longer this acquainta