laws! what's that between friends? The long
and short of it is this; is Barkis willing? If Barkis is willing,
then a certain gentleman as we know in the meat trade may suit
himself elsewhere. Come; answer that. Is Barkis willing?"

For a minute or two Robinson sat silent, thinking of the indignities
he had endured. That he loved the girl,--loved her warmly, with all
his heart,--was only too true. Yes; he loved her too well. Had his
affection been of a colder nature, he would have been able to stand
off for awhile, and thus have taught the lady a lesson which might
have been of service. But, in his present mood, the temptation was
too great for him, and he could not resist it. "Barkis is willing,"
said he. And thus, at the first overture, he forgave her all the
injury she had done him. A man never should forgive a woman unless he
has her absolutely in his power. When he does so, and thus wipes out
all old scores, he merely enables her to begin again.

But Robinson had said the word, and Miss Twizzle was not the woman to
allow him to go back from it. "That's well," said she. "And now I'll
tell you what. Tom and I are going to drink tea in Smithfield, with
old Brown, you know. You'll come too; and then, when old Brown goes
to sleep, you and Maryanne will make it up." Of course she had her
way; and Robinson, though he repented himself of what he was doing
before she was out of the room, promised to be there.

And he was there. When he entered Mr. Brown's sitting-room he found
Maryanne and Miss Twizzle, but Miss Twizzle's future lord had not
yet come. He did not wait for Mr. Brown to go to sleep, but at once
declared the purpose of his visit.

"Shall I say 'Maryanne?'" said he, putting out his hand; "or is it to
be 'Miss Brown?'"

"Well, I'm sure," said she; "there's a question! If 'Miss Brown' will
do for you, sir, it will do uncommon well for me."

"Call her 'Maryanne,' and have done with it," said Miss Twizzle. "I
hate all such nonsense, like poison."

"George," said the old man, "take her, and may a father's blessing go
along with her. We are partners in the haberdashery business, and now
we shall be partners in everything." Then he rose up, as though he
were going to join their hands.

"Oh, father, I know a trick worth two of that!" said Maryanne.
"That's not the way we manage these things now-a-days, is it, Polly?"

"I don't know any better way," said Polly, "when Barkis is willing."

"Maryanne," said Robi