ell? We were near it you know at the end of that long walk at
Malvern--only he seemed too tired--ha! ha! ha! There's tea and cake
there, Mrs. Fuzzybell. My dear Sir Lionel, I am delighted. I declare
you are five years younger--we are both five years younger than when
we were at Jerusalem."

And so forth. But Sir Lionel did not pass on to the tea-tables as did
the Finesses and the Longspades. He remained close at Miss Todd's
elbow, as though his friendship was of a more enduring kind than that
of others, as though he were more to Miss Todd than Mrs. Fuzzybell,
nearer than Miss Ruff who had just been assured at her entrance
that the decks should be made ready for action almost at once. A
lion-hearted old warrior was Miss Ruff,--one who could not stand
with patience the modern practice of dallying in the presence of her
enemies' guns. She had come there for a rubber of whist--to fight the
good fight--to conquer or to die, and her soul longed to be at it.
Wait but one moment longer, Miss Ruff, and the greengrocer and I will
have done with our usherings, and then the decks shall be cleared.

But we must certainly do the honours for our old friend Miss Baker.
Miss Todd, when she saw her, looked as though she would have fallen
on her neck and kissed her; but she doubtless remembered that their
respective head-dresses might suffer in the encounter.

"At last, dear Miss Baker; at last! I am so delighted; but where is
Miss Waddington? where is the bride-elect?" These last words were
said in a whisper which was not perhaps quite as plainly audible at
the other side of the Paragon as were the generality of Miss Todd's
speeches. "Indisposed! Why is she indisposed? you mean that she has
love-letters to write. I know that is what you mean." And the roar
again became a whisper fit for Drury Lane. "Well, I shall make a
point of seeing her to-morrow. Do you remember Jehoshaphat, dear
Jehoshaphat?" And then having made her little answers, Miss Baker
also passed on, and left Miss Todd in the act of welcoming the Rev.
Mr. O'Callaghan.

Miss Baker passed on, but she did so slowly. She had to speak to
Sir Lionel, who kept his place near Miss Todd's shoulder; and
perhaps she had some secret hope--no, not hope; some sort of an
anticipation--that her dear friend would give her the benefit of his
arm for a few moments. But Sir Lionel did nothing of the kind. He
took her hand with his kindest little squeeze, asked with his softest
voice after