arty was made up to visit
the Beulah Spa on the following Saturday.

'It's all right, I think,' said Mr. Gabriel Parsons to Mr. Watkins Tottle
as he opened the garden gate for him.

'I hope so,' he replied, squeezing his friend's hand.

'You'll be down by the first coach on Saturday,' said Mr. Gabriel
Parsons.

'Certainly,' replied Mr. Watkins Tottle. 'Undoubtedly.'

But fortune had decreed that Mr. Watkins Tottle should not be down by the
first coach on Saturday. His adventures on that day, however, and the
success of his wooing, are subjects for another chapter.

CHAPTER THE SECOND

'The first coach has not come in yet, has it, Tom?' inquired Mr. Gabriel
Parsons, as he very complacently paced up and down the fourteen feet of
gravel which bordered the 'lawn,' on the Saturday morning which had been
fixed upon for the Beulah Spa jaunt.

'No, sir; I haven't seen it,' replied a gardener in a blue apron, who let
himself out to do the ornamental for half-a-crown a day and his 'keep.'

'Time Tottle was down,' said Mr. Gabriel Parsons, ruminating--'Oh, here
he is, no doubt,' added Gabriel, as a cab drove rapidly up the hill; and
he buttoned his dressing-gown, and opened the gate to receive the
expected visitor. The cab stopped, and out jumped a man in a coarse
Petersham great-coat, whity-brown neckerchief, faded black suit,
gamboge-coloured top-boots, and one of those large-crowned hats, formerly
seldom met with, but now very generally patronised by gentlemen and
costermongers.

'Mr. Parsons?' said the man, looking at the superscription of a note he
held in his hand, and addressing Gabriel with an inquiring air.

'_My_ name is Parsons,' responded the sugar-baker.

'I've brought this here note,' replied the individual in the painted
tops, in a hoarse whisper: 'I've brought this here note from a gen'lm'n
as come to our house this mornin'.'

'I expected the gentleman at my house,' said Parsons, as he broke the
seal, which bore the impression of her Majesty's profile as it is seen on
a sixpence.

'I've no doubt the gen'lm'n would ha' been here, replied the stranger,
'if he hadn't happened to call at our house first; but we never trusts no
gen'lm'n furder nor we can see him--no mistake about that there'--added
the unknown, with a facetious grin; 'beg your pardon, sir, no offence
meant, only--once in, and I wish you may--catch the idea, sir?'

Mr. Gabriel Parsons was not remarkable for catching anything sudd