usual one! Fanny expressed herself very miserable; hinted at
the possibility of an early grave; said that nothing should induce her to
swerve from the duty she owed her parents; implored me to forget her, and
find out somebody more deserving, and all that sort of thing. She said
she could, on no account, think of meeting me unknown to her pa and ma;
and entreated me, as she should be in a particular part of Kensington
Gardens at eleven o'clock next morning, not to attempt to meet her
there.'

'You didn't go, of course?' said Watkins Tottle.

'Didn't I?--Of course I did. There she was, with the identical housemaid
in perspective, in order that there might be no interruption. We walked
about, for a couple of hours; made ourselves delightfully miserable; and
were regularly engaged. Then, we began to "correspond"--that is to say,
we used to exchange about four letters a day; what we used to say in 'em
I can't imagine. And I used to have an interview, in the kitchen, or the
cellar, or some such place, every evening. Well, things went on in this
way for some time; and we got fonder of each other every day. At last,
as our love was raised to such a pitch, and as my salary had been raised
too, shortly before, we determined on a secret marriage. Fanny arranged
to sleep at a friend's, on the previous night; we were to be married
early in the morning; and then we were to return to her home and be
pathetic. She was to fall at the old gentleman's feet, and bathe his
boots with her tears; and I was to hug the old lady and call her
"mother," and use my pocket-handkerchief as much as possible. Married we
were, the next morning; two girls-friends of Fanny's--acting as
bridesmaids; and a man, who was hired for five shillings and a pint of
porter, officiating as father. Now, the old lady unfortunately put off
her return from Ramsgate, where she had been paying a visit, until the
next morning; and as we placed great reliance on her, we agreed to
postpone our confession for four-and-twenty hours. My newly-made wife
returned home, and I spent my wedding-day in strolling about
Hampstead-heath, and execrating my father-in-law. Of course, I went to
comfort my dear little wife at night, as much as I could, with the
assurance that our troubles would soon be over. I opened the
garden-gate, of which I had a key, and was shown by the servant to our
old place of meeting--a back kitchen, with a stone-floor and a dresser:
upon which, i