nce has existed, the less reason is there for delay
now. Why not at once fix a period for gratifying the hopes of your
devoted admirer?'

'It has been represented to me again and again that this is the course I
ought to pursue,' replied Miss Lillerton, 'but pardon my feelings of
delicacy, Mr. Tottle--pray excuse this embarrassment--I have peculiar
ideas on such subjects, and I am quite sure that I never could summon up
fortitude enough to name the day to my future husband.'

'Then allow _me_ to name it,' said Tottle eagerly.

'I should like to fix it myself,' replied Miss Lillerton, bashfully, 'but
I cannot do so without at once resorting to a third party.'

'A third party!' thought Watkins Tottle; 'who the deuce is that to be, I
wonder!'

'Mr. Tottle,' continued Miss Lillerton, 'you have made me a most
disinterested and kind offer--that offer I accept. Will you at once be
the bearer of a note from me to--to Mr. Timson?'

'Mr. Timson!' said Watkins.

'After what has passed between us,' responded Miss Lillerton, still
averting her head, 'you must understand whom I mean; Mr. Timson,
the--the--clergyman.'

'Mr. Timson, the clergyman!' ejaculated Watkins Tottle, in a state of
inexpressible beatitude, and positive wonder at his own success. 'Angel!
Certainly--this moment!'

'I'll prepare it immediately,' said Miss Lillerton, making for the door;
'the events of this day have flurried me so much, Mr. Tottle, that I
shall not leave my room again this evening; I will send you the note by
the servant.'

'Stay,--stay,' cried Watkins Tottle, still keeping a most respectful
distance from the lady; 'when shall we meet again?'

'Oh! Mr. Tottle,' replied Miss Lillerton, coquettishly, 'when _we_ are
married, I can never see you too often, nor thank you too much;' and she
left the room.

Mr. Watkins Tottle flung himself into an arm-chair, and indulged in the
most delicious reveries of future bliss, in which the idea of 'Five
hundred pounds per annum, with an uncontrolled power of disposing of it
by her last will and testament,' was somehow or other the foremost. He
had gone through the interview so well, and it had terminated so
admirably, that he almost began to wish he had expressly stipulated for
the settlement of the annual five hundred on himself.

'May I come in?' said Mr. Gabriel Parsons, peeping in at the door.

'You may,' replied Watkins.

'Well, have you done it?' anxiously inquired Gabriel.

'Have I d