seen the poor young gentleman, am I to report to you what takes place?"

"Yes, if it is to assure me that I shall be no more troubled with his
addresses."

"You shall be obeyed, miss," continued Spikeman; then, changing his tone
and air, he said, "I beg your pardon, have you any knives or scissors to
grind?"

"No," replied Melissa, jumping up from her seat, and walking towards the
house to conceal her mirth. Shortly afterwards she turned round to look
if Spikeman was gone; he had remained near the seat, with his eyes
following her footsteps. "I could love that man," thought Melissa, as
she walked on. "What an eye he has, and what eloquence; I shall run
away with a tinker I do believe; but it is my destiny. Why does he say
a week--a whole week? But how easy to see through his disguise! He had
the stamp of a gentleman upon him. Dear me, I wonder how this is to
end! I must not tell Araminta yet; she would be fidgeted out of her
wits! How foolish of me! I quite forgot to ask the name of this
_gentleman_. I'll not forget it next time."

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

WELL DONE TINKER.

"It is beyond my hopes, Joey," said Spikeman, as they went back to the
cottage; "she knows well enough that I was pleading for myself, and not
for another, and she has said quite as much as my most sanguine wishes
could desire; in fact, she has given me permission to come again, and
report the result of her message to the non-existent gentleman, which is
equal to an assignation. I have no doubt now I shall ultimately
succeed, and I must make my preparations; I told her that I should not
be able to deliver her message for a week, and she did not like the
delay, that was clear; it will all work in my favour; a week's
expectation will ripen the fruit more than daily meetings. I must leave
this to-night; but you may as well stay here, for you can be of no use
to me."

"Where are you going, then?"

"First to Dudstone, to take my money out of the bank; I have a good sum,
sufficient to carry me on for many months after her marriage, if I do
marry her. I shall change my dress at Dudstone, of course, and then
start for London, by mail, and fit myself out with a most fashionable
wardrobe and etceteras, come down again to Cobhurst, the town we were in
the other day, with my portmanteau, and from thence return here in my
tinker's clothes to resume operations. You must not go near her during
my absence."

"Certainly not; shall I go o