nt to which his attack should be turned.
Meanwhile, Miss Todd sat silent. She knew by this time what was
coming; and knew also, that in courtesy the gentleman should be
allowed to have his say. Sir Lionel drew his chair again nearer--it
was now very near--and thus began:--

"Dear Sarah!--" How he had found out that Miss Todd's name was Sarah
it might be difficult to say. Her signature was S. Todd; and Sir
Lionel had certainly never heard her called by her Christian name.
But facts were with him. She undoubtedly had been christened Sarah.

"Dear Sarah!--"

"Ha! ha! ha! Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Miss Todd, with terrible loudness,
with a shaking of her sides, throwing herself backwards and forwards
in the corner of her sofa. It was not civil, and so Sir Lionel felt.
When you first call your lady-love by her Christian name, you do not
like to have the little liberty made a subject of ridicule--you feel
it by far less if the matter be taken up seriously against you as a
crime on your part.

"Ha! ha! ha!" continued Miss Todd, roaring in her laughter louder
than ever; "I don't think, Sir Lionel, I was ever called Sarah before
since the day I was born; and it does sound so funny. Sarah! Ha! ha!
ha!"

Sir Lionel was struck dumb. What could he say when his little
tenderness was met in such a manner?

"Call me Sally, if you like, Sir Lionel. My brothers and sisters,
and uncles and aunts, and all those sort of people, always called
me Sally. But, Sarah! Ha! ha! ha! Suppose you call me Sally, Sir
Lionel."

Sir Lionel tried, but he could not call her Sally; his lips at that
moment would not form the sound.

But the subject had now been introduced. If he should ever be able to
claim her as his own, he might then call her Sarah, or Sally, or use
any other term of endearment which the tenderness of the moment might
suggest. When that day should come, perhaps he might have his own
little joke; but, in the meantime, the plunge had been taken, and he
could now swim on.

"Miss Todd, you now know what my feelings are, and I hope that you
will at any rate not disapprove of them. We have known each other
for some time, and have, I hope, enjoyed and valued each other's
society." Miss Todd here made a little bow, but she said nothing. She
had a just perception that Sir Lionel should be permitted to have his
say, and that, as matters had become serious, it would be well for
her to wait till he had done, and then she might have her say. So