P. DEUCEACE.

"DEAREST,--You say you would share a cottage with me; there is no need,
luckily, for that! You plead the sad sinking of your spirits at
our delayed union. Beloved, do you think MY heart rejoices at our
separation? You bid me disregard the refusal of Lady Griffin, and tell
me that I owe her no further duty.

"Adored Algernon! I can refuse you no more. I was willing not to lose a
single chance of reconciliation with this unnatural step-mother. Respect
for the memory of my sainted father bid me do all in my power to gain
her consent to my union with you: nay, shall I own it? prudence dictated
the measure; for to whom should she leave the share of money accorded to
her by my father's will but to my father's child.

"But there are bounds beyond which no forbearance can go; and, thank
heaven, we have no need of looking to Lady Griffin for sordid wealth: we
have a competency without her. Is it not so, dearest Algernon?

"Be it as you wish, then, dearest, bravest, and best. Your poor Matilda
has yielded to you her heart long ago; she has no longer need to keep
back her name. Name the hour, and I will delay no more; but seek for
refuge in your arms from the contumely and insult which meet me ever
here.

"MATILDA.

"P.S. Oh, Algernon! if you did but know what a noble part your dear
father has acted throughout, in doing his best endeavors to further
our plans, and to soften Lady Griffin! It is not his fault that she is
inexorable as she is. I send you a note sent by her to Lord Crabs; we
will laugh at it soon, n'est-ce pas?"

II.

"MY LORD,--In reply to your demand for Miss Griffin's hand, in favor of
your son, Mr. Algernon Deuceace, I can only repeat what I before have
been under the necessity of stating to you,--that I do not believe a
union with a person of Mr. Deuceace's character would conduce to my
stepdaughter's happiness, and therefore REFUSE MY CONSENT. I will
beg you to communicate the contents of this note to Mr. Deuceace; and
implore you no more to touch upon a subject which you must be aware is
deeply painful to me.

"I remain your lordship's most humble servant,

"L. E. GRIFFIN.

"THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF CRABS."

"Hang her ladyship!" says my master, "what care I for it?" As for the
old lord who'd been so afishous in his kindness and advice, master
recknsiled that pretty well, with thinking that his lordship knew he was
going to marry ten thousand a year, and igspected to get some