w whom I mean, my dear--the young man with the black
whiskers and the white cravat, who has just come out at our assembly, and
whom all the girls are talking about. Young--dear me! what's his
name?--Marianne, what _is_ his name?' continued Mrs. Malderton,
addressing her youngest daughter, who was engaged in netting a purse, and
looking sentimental.

'Mr. Horatio Sparkins, ma,' replied Miss Marianne, with a sigh.

'Oh! yes, to be sure--Horatio Sparkins,' said Mrs. Malderton. 'Decidedly
the most gentleman-like young man I ever saw. I am sure in the
beautifully-made coat he wore the other night, he looked like--like--'

'Like Prince Leopold, ma--so noble, so full of sentiment!' suggested
Marianne, in a tone of enthusiastic admiration.

'You should recollect, my dear,' resumed Mrs. Malderton, 'that Teresa is
now eight-and-twenty; and that it really is very important that something
should be done.'

Miss Teresa Malderton was a very little girl, rather fat, with vermilion
cheeks, but good-humoured, and still disengaged, although, to do her
justice, the misfortune arose from no lack of perseverance on her part.
In vain had she flirted for ten years; in vain had Mr. and Mrs. Malderton
assiduously kept up an extensive acquaintance among the young eligible
bachelors of Camberwell, and even of Wandsworth and Brixton; to say
nothing of those who 'dropped in' from town. Miss Malderton was as well
known as the lion on the top of Northumberland House, and had an equal
chance of 'going off.'

'I am quite sure you'd like him,' continued Mrs. Malderton, 'he is so
gentlemanly!'

'So clever!' said Miss Marianne.

'And has such a flow of language!' added Miss Teresa.

'He has a great respect for you, my dear,' said Mrs. Malderton to her
husband. Mr. Malderton coughed, and looked at the fire.

'Yes I'm sure he's very much attached to pa's society,' said Miss
Marianne.

'No doubt of it,' echoed Miss Teresa.

'Indeed, he said as much to me in confidence,' observed Mrs. Malderton.

'Well, well,' returned Mr. Malderton, somewhat flattered; 'if I see him
at the assembly to-morrow, perhaps I'll ask him down. I hope he knows we
live at Oak Lodge, Camberwell, my dear?'

'Of course--and that you keep a one-horse carriage.'

'I'll see about it,' said Mr. Malderton, composing himself for a nap;
'I'll see about it.'

Mr. Malderton was a man whose whole scope of ideas was limited to
Lloyd's, the Exchange, the India House, and th