recovered his verses from Tom, although he had not had
time to look at them, thought this a good opportunity of presenting
them; and, observing that the major's eyes were turned another way, took
the paper out of his pocket and gave it to her.

"These lines, my dearest, will show you the depth of my affection," he
said.

Angelica, with a blush, which she had the art of commanding at pleasure,
took the paper. A frown, however, gathered on her brow as she read--

"`Tall as a poplar, sharp as a thorn;
I should never have missed you had you never been born.
Roses are sweet and lilies are fair,
But they lose their beauty when seen in your hair.'"

"Do you mean to insult me?" exclaimed Angelica, in an angry tone, as she
continued to read on the doggerel which Tom had substituted for those
Billy had given him. Just then the major, turning round, saw his
daughter with a paper in her hand, and Billy standing by her side. He,
supposing it to be a formal proposal which, in his paternal anxiety, he
had carefully been looking for, approached with the intention of
clinching the matter in the presence of witnesses, and allowing Billy no
chance of escape. So convinced was he of this, that, without asking to
look at the paper, he grasped Billy's hand.

"My dear fellow," he exclaimed, in his enthusiasm, "I am happy to
congratulate you on your success and good taste. She will make you an
admirable wife; and you will prove, I am sure, an affectionate husband.
I accept your offer on my daughter's behalf and you shall have my
blessing and that of Mrs Bubsby."

"But I have not made a downright offer," answered Billy.

"No, indeed he has not," exclaimed Angelica. "Look at these abominable
lines he has just presented to me. What his object was I cannot
divine."

The major took the paper and read the lines.

"Do you mean to insult my beloved child by putting such wretched trash
as this into her hands?" exclaimed the major, with a sudden revulsion of
feeling.

"I did not write them," answered Billy. "Indeed I did not. I had no
wish to insult Miss Angelica; for I thought her a most charming person,
and had got some beautiful lines almost ready, which I had intended to
give her."

"This does not satisfy me, sir," answered the major. "The only apology
you can make is to go down on your knees and beg the forgiveness of my
innocent child, and offer to marry her forthwith."

"That I'll not," answered Billy, who had not