"You droll Uncle Lawrence, aren't you ashamed of yourself?"

It was an astuter young Napoleon than Uncle Lawrence knew. Even then
and there, in Mrs. Kingfisher's ball-room, had Fanny Newt resolved how
to carry her Mantua by a sudden coup.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

HEAVEN'S LAST BEST GIFT.

"My dear Alfred, I am glad to see you. You may kiss me--carefully,
carefully!"

Mr. Alfred Dinks therewith kissed lips upon his return from Boston.

"Sit down, Alfred, my dear, I wish to speak to you," said Fanny Newt,
with even more than her usual decision. The eyes were extremely round and
black. Alfred seated himself with vague trepidation.

"My dear, we must be married immediately," remarked Fanny, quietly.

The eyes of the lover shone with pleasure.

"Dear Fanny!" said he, "have you told mother?"

"No," answered she, calmly.

"Well, but then you know--" rejoined Alfred. He would have said more,
but he was afraid. He wanted to inquire whether Fanny thought that her
father would supply the sinews of matrimony. Alfred's theory was that he
undoubtedly would. He was sure that a young woman of Fanny's calmness,
intrepidity, and profound knowledge of the world would not propose
immediate matrimony without seeing how the commissariat was to be
supplied. She has all her plans laid, of course, thought he--she is so
talented and cool that 'tis all right, I dare say. Of course she knows
that I have nothing, and hope for nothing except from old Burt, and he's
not sure for me, by any means. But Boniface Newt is rich enough.

And Alfred consoled himself by thinking of the style in which that worthy
commission merchant lived, and especially of his son Abel's expense and
splendor.

"Alfred, dear--just try not to be trying, you know, but think what you
are about. Your mother has found out that something has gone wrong--that
you are not engaged to Hope Wayne."

"Yes--yes, I know," burst in Alfred; "she treated me like a porcupine
this morning--or ant-eater, which is it, Fanny--the thing with quills,
you know?"

Miss Fanny Newt patted the floor with her foot. Alfred continued:

"Yes, and Hope sent down, and she wanted to see me alone some time
to-day."

Fanny's foot stopped.

"Alfred, dear," said she, "you are a good fellow, but you are too
amiable. You must do just as I want you to, dearest, or something awful
will happen."

"Pooh! Fanny; nothing shall happen. I love you like any thing."

Smack! smack!

"Well, then, list