and walked away with old Mrs. Shortpointz on his arm. It
was hard, we must acknowledge, that a man of Sir Lionel's age and
standing should be so employed at such a moment, because that flirt,
Maria Shortpointz, had gone out to see young Mr. Garded ride by in
his pink coat and spattered boots. He would have let her fall and
break her leg, only that by doing so he would have prolonged the time
of his own attendance on her. She lived half across Littlebath; and
her step, ordinarily slow, was slower then usual now that she was
leaning on a knight's arm. At last she was deposited at home; and the
gallant colonel, having scornfully repudiated her offer of cake and
sherry, flew back to the Paragon on the wings of love--in a street
cab, for which he had to pay eighteenpence.

But he was all too late. Miss Todd had gone out in her fly just three
minutes since; and thus a whole day was lost.

On the Tuesday, in proper course, he was due at Miss Baker's. But for
this turn, Miss Baker must be neglected. At the same hour he again
knocked at the door of the Paragon, and was again admitted, and
now Miss Todd was all alone. She was rarely left so very long, and
the precious moments must be seized at once. Sir Lionel, with that
military genius which was so peculiarly his own, determined to use
his yesterday's defeat in aid of to-day's victory. He would make even
Mrs. Shortpointz serviceable.

When gentlemen past sixty make love to ladies past forty, it may
be supposed that they are not so dilatory in their proceedings
as younger swains and younger maidens. Time is then behind them,
not before them; and urges them on to quick decisions. It may be
presumed, moreover, that this pair knew their own minds.

"How cruel you were to me yesterday!" said Sir Lionel, seating
himself not very close to her--nor yet very far from her.

"What! about poor Mrs. Shortpointz? Ha! ha! ha! Poor old lady; she
didn't think so, I am sure. One ought to be of use sometimes, you
know, Sir Lionel."

"True, true, Miss Todd; quite true. But I was particularly
unfortunate yesterday. I wished that Mrs. Shortpointz was
hanging--anywhere except on my arm. I did, indeed."

"Ha! ha! ha! Poor Mrs. Shortpointz! And she was so full of you last
night. The beau ideal of manly beauty! that was what she called you.
She did indeed. Ha! ha! ha!"

"She was very kind."

"And then we all quizzed her about you; and Miss Finesse called her
Lady Bertram. You can't think how