to
hang out?--the '_Gradus ad_' place, you know?"

"The tuneful Nine, whom you barbarously designate young women," returned
Coleman, "are popularly supposed to have resided on Mount Parnassus,
which acclivity I have always imagined of a triangular or sugar-loaf
form, with Apollo seated on the apex or extreme point, his attention
divided between preserving his equilibrium and keeping up his playing,
which latter necessity he provided for by executing difficult passages
on a golden (or, more probably, silver-gilt) lyre."

"Eh! nonsense," rejoined Lawless; "now, do be serious for five minutes,
and go ahead with this letter, there's a good fellow; for, 'pon my word,
I'm in a wretched state of mind--I am indeed. It's a fact, I'm nearly
half a stone lighter than I was when I came here; I know I am, for there
was an old fellow weighing a defunct pig down at the farm yesterday, and
I made him let me get into the scales when he took piggy out. I tell you
what, if I'm not married soon I shall make a job for the sexton;
such incessant wear and tear of the sensibilities is enough to kill a
prize-fighter in full-training, let alone a man that has been leading
such a molly-coddle life as I have of late, lounging about drawing-rooms
like a lapdog."

"Well, then, let us begin at once," said Freddy, seizing a pen; "now,
what am I to say?"

"Eh! why, you don't expect me to know, do you?" exclaimed Lawless
aghast; "I might just as well write it myself as have to tell you; no,
no, you must help me, or else I'd better give the whole thing up at
once."

"I'll help you, man, never fear," rejoined Freddy, "but you must give
me something to work upon; why, it's all plain sailing enough; begin by
describing your feelings."

"Feelings, eh?" said Lawless, rubbing his ear violently, as if to arouse
his dormant faculties, "that's easier said than done. Well, here goes
for a start: 'My dear Miss Fairlegh'".

"'My dear Miss Fairlegh,'" repeated Coleman, writing rapidly, "yes."

"Have you written that?" continued Lawless; "ar--let me think--'I
have felt for some time past very ~365~~ peculiar sensations, and have
become, in many respects, quite an altered man'." "'Altered man,'"
murmured Freddy, still writing. "'I have given up hunting,'" resumed
Lawless, "'which no longer possesses any interest in my eyes, though
I think you'd have said, if you had been with us the last time we were
out, that you never saw a prettier run in your life; the m