your pardon,' said he.

'Eh?'

'I thought you spoke.'

'No.'

'Oh!'

'There are some books on the sofa, Mr. Tottle, if you would like to look
at them,' said Miss Lillerton, after the lapse of another five minutes.

'No, thank you,' returned Watkins; and then he added, with a courage
which was perfectly astonishing, even to himself, 'Madam, that is Miss
Lillerton, I wish to speak to you.'

'To me!' said Miss Lillerton, letting the silk drop from her hands, and
sliding her chair back a few paces.--'Speak--to me!'

'To you, madam--and on the subject of the state of your affections.' The
lady hastily rose and would have left the room; but Mr. Watkins Tottle
gently detained her by the hand, and holding it as far from him as the
joint length of their arms would permit, he thus proceeded: 'Pray do not
misunderstand me, or suppose that I am led to address you, after so short
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 informatio