am to accept or reject at once, am I?'

'Yes,' said Mr Witherden.

The charming creature was opening her lips to speak in reply, when the
door was hastily opened too, and the head of Sampson Brass was thrust
into the room.

'Excuse me,' said the gentleman hastily. 'Wait a bit!'

So saying, and quite indifferent to the astonishment his presence
occasioned, he crept in, shut the door, kissed his greasy glove as
servilely as if it were the dust, and made a most abject bow.

'Sarah,' said Brass, 'hold your tongue if you please, and let me speak.
Gentlemen, if I could express the pleasure it gives me to see three
such men in a happy unity of feeling and concord of sentiment, I think
you would hardly believe me. But though I am unfortunate--nay,
gentlemen, criminal, if we are to use harsh expressions in a company
like this--still, I have my feelings like other men. I have heard of a
poet, who remarked that feelings were the common lot of all. If he
could have been a pig, gentlemen, and have uttered that sentiment, he
would still have been immortal.'

'If you're not an idiot,' said Miss Brass harshly, 'hold your peace.'

'Sarah, my dear,' returned her brother, 'thank you. But I know what I
am about, my love, and will take the liberty of expressing myself
accordingly. Mr Witherden, Sir, your handkerchief is hanging out of
your pocket--would you allow me to--,

As Mr Brass advanced to remedy this accident, the Notary shrunk from
him with an air of disgust. Brass, who over and above his usual
prepossessing qualities, had a scratched face, a green shade over one
eye, and a hat grievously crushed, stopped short, and looked round with
a pitiful smile.

'He shuns me,' said Sampson, 'even when I would, as I may say, heap
coals of fire upon his head. Well! Ah! But I am a falling house, and
the rats (if I may be allowed the expression in reference to a
gentleman I respect and love beyond everything) fly from me!
Gentlemen--regarding your conversation just now, I happened to see my
sister on her way here, and, wondering where she could be going to, and
being--may I venture to say?--naturally of a suspicious turn, followed
her. Since then, I have been listening.'

'If you're not mad,' interposed Miss Sally, 'stop there, and say no
more.'

'Sarah, my dear,' rejoined Brass with undiminished politeness, 'I thank
you kindly, but will still proceed. Mr Witherden, sir, as we have the
honour to be members of the same pro