ttle virtues unchallenged.

"Wal," said Clo, "arter all it needs trabbel and the world to develop a
man proper."

"Jis' so, Miss Clorindy; yer's allers rezact."

He gave her a very tender glance, and Clo giggled in delightful
confusion.

"But I tell you, Mr. Othello mustn't lose his share of 'freshment,"
pursued Dolf, anxious to secure as many extra meals as possible. "Miss
Clo, will you permit me to make a proposition?"

"I'll feel it an honor," said Clo.

"Yer does me proud," returned Dolf with a profound bow, while Dinah sat
quite aghast at their stateliness and high breeding, and Sally began to
think Clo must speak Spanish as well as Dolf.

"I moves we has our tea now," said Dolf; "it's a sort of delercate
compliment to Miss Elsie to eat when she does, and later in de ebenin'
arter Mr. Othello comes we might make a brile ob dat chicken in de
closet--marster don't eat nothin', and I'se afeared it'll be wasted."

Clo was complaisance itself, and went to work while Dolf encouraged her
with his smiles.

By the time Victoria came downstairs the table was spread sumptuously,
and in order to carry out Dolf's extraordinary idea of complimenting
Miss Elsie, there were sweetmeats and cakes, hot muffins, cold tongue,
and stores of eatables that brought the water into Dolf's crafty mouth.

The meal began in greatest harmony, Miss Dinah was very affable, Vic
really was the best-natured creature in the world, and just now she was
perfectly happy from seeing her beloved young mistress better; Dolf was
so circumspect in his conduct that Clo was kept in the state of high
good humor befitting the glory of her new turban, and the first
brightness of the change which had come upon her prospects.

The truth was, the day before, while she was peeling onions, Dolf grew
desperate, and was led on to that point beyond which there was no
turning back. Clo had grown tender and confidential--he learned the
amount of her fortune--five hundred hard dollars in the bank. After this
the happiness of that sable pair was supreme. For the moment she really
looked beautiful in his eyes, and with tears in their depths--the result
of affection, not of the onions he assured her--he implored her to make
him the happiest of men. He performed his part in the most grandiloquent
style, dropping on one knee as he had seen lovers do from the upper loft
of the Bowery Theatre, and holding her hands fast, one of which grasped
a knife and the other an on