if he is disguised, as I feel confident that
he is, I shall soon discover it."

Miss Melissa Mathews did not sleep that night; and at the time appointed
she was sitting on the bench, with all the assumed dignity of a
newly-made magistrate. Spikeman and Joey were not long before they made
their appearance. Spikeman was particularly clean and neat, although he
took care to wear the outward appearance of a tinker; his hands were, by
continual washing in hot water, very white, and he had paid every
attention to his person, except in wearing his rough and sullied
clothes.

"My boy tells me, miss, that you wish to speak to me," said Spikeman,
assuming the air of a vulgar man.

"I did, friend," said Melissa, after looking at Spikeman for a few
minutes; "a letter has been brought here clandestinely, and your boy
confesses that he received it from you; now, I wish to know how you came
by it."

"Boy, go away to a distance," said Spikeman, very angrily; "if you can't
keep one secret, at all events you shall not hear any more."

Joey retreated, as had been arranged between them.

"Well, madam, or miss (I suppose miss)," said Spikeman, "that letter was
written by a gentleman that loves the very ground you tread upon."

"And he requested it to be delivered to me?"

"He did, miss; and if you knew, as I do, how he loves you, you would not
be surprised at his taking so bold a step."

"I am surprised at your taking so bold a step, tinker, as to send it by
your boy."

"It was a long while before I would venture, miss; but when he had told
me what he did, I really could not help doing so; for I pitied him, and
so would you, if you knew all."

"And pray what did he tell you?"

"He told me, miss," said Spikeman, who had gradually assumed his own
manner of speaking, "that he had ever rejected the thoughts of
matrimony--that he rose up every morning thanking Heaven that he was
free and independent--that he had scorned the idea of ever being
captivated with the charms of a woman; but that one day he had by chance
passed down this road, and had heard you singing as you were coming down
to repose on this bench. Captivated by your voice, curiosity induced
him to conceal himself in the copse behind us, and from thence he had a
view of your person: nay, miss he told me more, that he had played the
eaves-dropper, and heard all your conversation, free and unconstrained
as it was from the supposition that you were alone; he heard you