manner, do so differently from what any one could have suspected,
as to be induced at last to listen to her Vernon's tale of love."

The lover here alluded to hardly knew whether to treat the matter as a
joke or to get very angry; and so he did neither, whilst Frank went
on--"I'm sure you needn't despair either, as far as looks go. There's
pretty, smiling, little Bessie--in my opinion the prettiest girl of the
two"--Vernon shook his head with mournful impatience--"Well, you think
yours prettiest, and I'll think mine," continued Frank; "that's just as
it should be; and as I was about to say, if the lovely Bessie can smile
upon your humble servant when he talked of love, I don't see why her
sister might not be induced to smile upon his companion if he did the
like."

"How! what? Why, you surely don't mean to say that you've told Miss
Bessie that you love her?"

"Yes, I do," replied Frank. "I told her so yesterday afternoon as we
walked home from church, behind the rest of the party, across the
fields. Thought I wouldn't do it then either, as there were so many
people about--never said a word about the matter over two fields--helped
her over the stiles, too, and talked--no, I be hanged if I think we said
a word, either of us--till as I was helping her to jump down the third,
out it bounced, all of a sudden."

"And what did you say?" asked Wycherley.

"Catch a weasel asleep, Mr Vernon," was Frank's reply.

"But the squire, how will you manage with him, do you suppose?"

"Managed with him already," replied Frank; "settled every thing last
night over a glass of port, after you'd bundled your lazy carcass off to
bed. That is, one glass didn't quite complete the business, for it took
two or three to get my courage up to concert pitch. Then another or two
to discuss the matter--and then a bumper to drink success--and then
another glass"--

"Another!" interrupted Vernon; "why, you little drunken rascal, what
pretext could you have for that?"

"I've a great mind not to tell you for your rude question," resumed
Frank laughing; "but never mind, old fellow, you've borne a great deal
from me before now, and there's probably more in store for you yet; so
without further preamble I'll at once answer your question, by informing
you that the pretext for my last glass was to wet a dry discourse about
the affairs of one Mr Vernon Wycherley. Now, hold your tongue, and don't
interrupt me, or swallow me either, which you appear to be