pal medical man in Shrewsbury; a pompous old
blockhead, with twenty thousand pounds and a pigtail. Mary is a sweet
little creature; and, between you and me, I rather flatter myself I have
made an impression in that quarter. You have no idea how she laughed when
I danced the fetter hornpipe at the Jones's."

"Sacks," said I quietly, "if you dare to mention that young lady's name in
connexion with yourself again, I shall knock out your brains on the
nearest monument. I am perfectly serious. Now listen--how can I get an
introduction to the doctor?"

"It won't do, old fellow, if you have a complaint of the chest."

"How so?"

"The phlebotomizing Jew swears he won't marry his daughter to any man who
is not as rich as himself. But I'll tell you what it is, Fred.--You are a
confoundedly good fellow, though you _are_ a descendant of William the
Lion, which I consider to be utter gammon, and I don't care if I lend you
a helping hand. Miss Morgan is very intimate with Letty Jones, who is a
nice larking girl, and understands how to manage her mamma. I'll arrange a
quiet tea-party there to-morrow evening, and you may make love as long as
you like, provided you don't interfere with supper."

No arrangement could possibly have pleased me better. The Saxon was as
good as his word; and after an early dinner, at which I tyrannously
curtailed my friend of his usual allowance of liquor, we made our way to
the Jonesian habitation.

Cutts, very good-naturedly, took the whole task of amusing the company
upon himself. He gave pantomimic representations of T. P. Cooke and
Taglioni, sang half-a-dozen songs that are nightly encored at the Surrey
side, and finally performed a series of antique statues in his
shirt-sleeves. For myself, I was far too agreeably occupied to pay much
attention to his masterpiece of "Ajax defying the Lightning." Mary Morgan
was prettier and more fascinating than ever, and before supper was
announced, I had made considerable progress. I saw her home, and made an
appointment for next day to visit a ruin in the neighbourhood. Cutts was
rewarded for his good behaviour by three extra tumblers of brandy and
water at the Saracen, and became so affectionate that I had much
difficulty in making my escape to bed.

I shall pass over, without condescending upon minute particulars, the
history of the ensuing week. Love-making is always pleasant; certainly
more so in summer than in winter, but there is a strange alchemy in th