added that quickness of decision and
immediate sense of right which a clever woman knows to be the very
things she wants. Moreover, his dress, which goes a very long way into
the heart of a lady, was most correct and particular. For his coat was
of the latest Bond Street fashion, the "Jean de Brie," improved and
beautified by suggestions from the Prince of Wales himself. Bright
claret was the colour, and the buttons were of gold, bright enough to
show the road before him as he walked. The shoulders were padded, as if
a jam pot stood there, and the waist buttoned tight, too tight for any
happiness, to show the bright laticlave of brocaded waistcoat. Then
followed breeches of rich purple padusoy, having white satin bows at the
knee, among which the little silver bells of the Hessian boots jingled.

Miss Twemlow was superior to all small feeling, but had great breadth of
sympathy with the sterling truth in fashion. The volume of love, like
a pattern-book, fell open, and this well-dressed gentleman was engraved
upon her heart. The most captious young chit, such as Dolly herself,
could scarcely have called him either corpulent or old. Every day he
could be seen to be growing younger, with the aid of fresh fish as a
totally novel ingredient in his system; his muscle increased with the
growth of brain-power, and the shoemaker was punching a fresh hole
in his belt, an inch further back, every week he stopped there. After
buckling up three holes, he proposed. Miss Twemlow referred him to her
dear papa; and the Rector took a week to enquire and meditate. "Take a
month, if you like," said Mr. Shargeloes.

This reply increased the speed. Mr. Twemlow had the deepest respect for
the Corporation, and to live to be the father of a Lord Mayor of London
became a new ambition to lead on his waning years. "Come and dine with
us on Saturday, and we will tell you all about it," he said, with a
pleasant smile, and warm shake of the hand; and Shargeloes knew that the
neck and the curls would bend over the broad gold chain some day.

How grievous it is to throw a big stone into a pool which has plenty of
depth and length and width for the rings to travel pleasantly, yet not
to make one ring, because of wind upon the water! In the days that were
not more than two years old, Springhaven could have taken all this news,
with a swiftly expanding and smoothly fluent circle, with a lift of
self-importance at the centre of the movement, and a heave of