e
fish-monger's bill. There would be Miss Tickle, too. You said you would
like Miss Tickle. I should have to pay for her. That would be about
enough, I think."

Mr. Prosper was thoroughly disgusted; but when he left Marmaduke Lodge
he had not said a word as to withdrawing from his offer. She declared
that she would put her terms into writing and give them to her lawyer,
who would communicate with Mr. Grey.

Mr. Prosper was surprised to find that she knew the name of his lawyer,
who was in truth our old friend. And then, while he was still
hesitating, she astounded,--nay, shocked him by her mode of ending the
conference. She got up and, throwing her arms round his neck, kissed him
most affectionately. After that there was no retreating for Mr.
Prosper,--no immediate mode of retreat, at all events. He could only back
out of the room, and get into his carriage, and be carried home as
quickly as possible.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE PROPOSAL.

It had never happened to him before. The first thought that came upon
Mr. Prosper, when he got into his carriage, was that it had never
occurred to him before. He did not reflect that he had not put himself
in the way of it: but now the strangeness of the sensation overwhelmed
him. He inquired of himself whether it was pleasant, but he found
himself compelled to answer the question with a negative. It should have
come from him, but not yet; not yet, probably, for some weeks. But it
had been done, and by the doing of it she had sealed him utterly as her
own. There was no getting out of it now. He did feel that he ought not
to attempt to get out of it after what had taken place. He was not sure
but that the lady had planned it all with that purpose; but he was sure
that a strong foundation had been laid for a breach of promise case if
he were to attempt to escape. What might not a jury do against him,
giving damages out of the acres of Buston Hall? And then Miss
Thoroughbung would go over to the other Thoroughbungs and to the
Annesleys, and his condition would become intolerable. In some moments,
as he was driven home, he was not sure but that it had all been got up
as a plot against him by the Annesleys.

When he got out of his carriage Matthew knew that things had gone badly
with his master; but he could not conjecture in what way. The matter had
been fully debated in the kitchen, and it had been there decided that
Miss Thoroughbung was certainly to be brought home as the fut