t she had news. Between Miss P.
Gauntlet and Miss Todd there had never been cordiality. Miss Todd
was, as we have said, of the world, worldly; whereas Miss Gauntlet
was of Dr. Snort, godly. She belonged plainly to the third set of
which we have spoken; Miss Todd was an amalgamation of the two
first. Miss Baker, however, was a point of union, a connecting rod.
There was about her a savouring of the fragrance of Ebenezer, but
accompanied, it must be owned, by a whiff of brimstone. Thus these
three ladies were brought together; and as it was manifest that Miss
Todd had news to tell, the other two were prepared to listen.

"What do you think, ladies?" and she sat herself down, filling an
arm-chair with her goodly person. "What do you think has happened to
me to-day?"

"Perhaps the doctor has been with you," said Miss P. Gauntlet, not
alluding to the Littlebath Galen, but meaning to insinuate that Miss
Todd might have come thither to tell them of her conversion from the
world.

"Better than ten doctors, my dear"--Miss Penelope drew herself up
very stiffly--"or twenty! I've had an offer of marriage. What do you
think of that?"

Miss P. Gauntlet looked as though she thought a great deal of it. She
certainly did think that had such an accident happened to her, she
would not have spoken of it with such a voice, or before such an
audience. But now her face, which was always long and thin, became
longer and thinner, and she sat with her mouth open, expecting
further news.

Miss Baker became rather red, then rather pale, and then red again.
She put out her hand, and took hold of the side of the chair in which
she sat; but she said nothing. Her heart told her that that offer had
been made by Sir Lionel.

"You don't wish me joy, ladies," said Miss Todd.

"But you have not told us whether you accepted it," said Miss
Penelope.

"Ha! ha! ha! No, that's the worst of it. No, I didn't accept it. But,
upon my word, it was made."

Then it was not Sir Lionel, thought Miss Baker, releasing her hold
of the chair, and feeling that the blood about her heart was again
circulating.

"And is that all that we are to know?" asked Miss Penelope.

"Oh, my dears, you shall know it all. I told my lover that I should
keep no secrets. But, come, you shall guess. Who was it, Miss Baker?"

"I couldn't say at all," said Miss Baker, in a faint voice.

"Perhaps Mr. O'Callaghan," suggested Miss Penelope, conscious,
probably, that an ardent youn