ed and her finger pressed on Mr. Gusher's arm. Mr. Gusher
looked at the little woman with an air of surprise and astonishment.

"Nau-tick-el? I do not understand zat, madam."

"Elizabeth Judson Bottom. That's my name," resumed the woman, raising
her voice, and seeming to speak with a feeling of relief. "Bottom is my
husband's name." Here she lowered her voice again. "Nautical. Commands a
ship. Is away off in the South Sea, my husband is. There's nobody got a
better husband than I have." The little woman said this with an emphasis
and a smile of satisfaction lighting up her face. "You may have heard of
my husband, sir? He is well known among nautical people. My husband
sails the celebrated ship Pacific, and has made three successful
voyages. You hav'nt had much to do with ships if you hav'nt heard of my
husband. There, there, that looks just like the ship he sails in." The
little woman pointed to the picture of a ship under full sail hanging on
the wall.

"Madam, I am sure I shall know your husband," said Mr. Gusher, returning
with the paper representing the number of shares the little woman had
paid her money for. "I shall be so happy to zee him when he shall come
home." Mr. Gusher handed her the paper, saying: "Now, madam, you shall
take good care of zis. Your money, it shall be perfectly safe."

While this interesting little episode was being performed up stairs, an
open carriage, showily caparisoned and drawn by a stylish pair of
well-groomed bays, drew up at the door. A desperate effort had evidently
been made to get the coachman into some sort of livery, for he wore a
tall black hat, with a broad velvet band, and a buckle in front as big
as an ordinary sized horse shoe. His coat, too, was of green cloth,
covered all over with large brass buttons, and he seemed proud of his
white gloves and tight-fitting breeches, which he kept looking down at
every few minutes.

This was Mrs. Topman's new "turnout," which she had recently set up in
opposition to one indulged in by a circumspect and very aristocratic
neighbor. Topman alighted from the carriage, received and returned the
bows of several persons on the sidewalk, and soon came hurrying into the
counting-room, where he was received with great respect by the combined
dignity of the firm.

"Madam," said Mr. Gusher, again addressing the little woman, "allow me
to have ze pleazure as I shall present to you zis gentleman." Here Mr.
Gusher introduced Topman, his partner