ugh you have every disposition to pay me if you could?'

'Certainly.'

'Then,' said Mr. Gabriel Parsons, 'listen: here's my proposition. You
know my way of old. Accept it--yes or no--I will or I won't. I'll pay
the debt and costs, and I'll lend you 10_l._ more (which, added to your
annuity, will enable you to carry on the war well) if you'll give me your
note of hand to pay me one hundred and fifty pounds within six months
after you are married to Miss Lillerton.'

'My dear--'

'Stop a minute--on one condition; and that is, that you propose to Miss
Lillerton at once.'

'At once! My dear Parsons, consider.'

'It's for you to consider, not me. She knows you well from reputation,
though she did not know you personally until lately. Notwithstanding all
her maiden modesty, I think she'd be devilish glad to get married out of
hand with as little delay as possible. My wife has sounded her on the
subject, and she has confessed.'

'What--what?' eagerly interrupted the enamoured Watkins.

'Why,' replied Parsons, 'to say exactly what she has confessed, would be
rather difficult, because they only spoke in hints, and so forth; but my
wife, who is no bad judge in these cases, declared to me that what she
had confessed was as good as to say that she was not insensible of your
merits--in fact, that no other man should have her.'

Mr. Watkins Tottle rose hastily from his seat, and rang the bell.

'What's that for?' inquired Parsons.

'I want to send the man for the bill stamp,' replied Mr. Watkins Tottle.

'Then you've made up your mind?'

'I have,'--and they shook hands most cordially. The note of hand was
given--the debt and costs were paid--Ikey was satisfied for his trouble,
and the two friends soon found themselves on that side of Mr. Solomon
Jacobs's establishment, on which most of his visitors were very happy
when they found themselves once again--to wit, the _out_side.

'Now,' said Mr. Gabriel Parsons, as they drove to Norwood together--'you
shall have an opportunity to make the disclosure to-night, and mind you
speak out, Tottle.'

'I will--I will!' replied Watkins, valorously.

'How I should like to see you together,' ejaculated Mr. Gabriel
Parsons.--'What fun!' and he laughed so long and so loudly, that he
disconcerted Mr. Watkins Tottle, and frightened the horse.

'There's Fanny and your intended walking about on the lawn,' said
Gabriel, as they approached the house. 'Mind your eye, Tottle.'