he Signor's house--and very fast he walked too, for fear the list
should be filled up, and the five-and-seventy completed, before he got
there. The Signor was at home, and, what was still more gratifying, he
was an Englishman! Such a nice man--and so polite! The list was not
full, but it was a most extraordinary circumstance that there was only
just one vacancy, and even that one would have been filled up, that very
morning, only Signor Billsmethi was dissatisfied with the reference, and,
being very much afraid that the lady wasn't select, wouldn't take her.

'And very much delighted I am, Mr. Cooper,' said Signor Billsmethi, 'that
I did _not_ take her. I assure you, Mr. Cooper--I don't say it to
flatter you, for I know you're above it--that I consider myself extremely
fortunate in having a gentleman of your manners and appearance, sir.'

'I am very glad of it too, sir,' said Augustus Cooper.

'And I hope we shall be better acquainted, sir,' said Signor Billsmethi.

'And I'm sure I hope we shall too, sir,' responded Augustus Cooper. Just
then, the door opened, and in came a young lady, with her hair curled in
a crop all over her head, and her shoes tied in sandals all over her
ankles.

'Don't run away, my dear,' said Signor Billsmethi; for the young lady
didn't know Mr. Cooper was there when she ran in, and was going to run
out again in her modesty, all in confusion-like. 'Don't run away, my
dear,' said Signor Billsmethi, 'this is Mr. Cooper--Mr. Cooper, of
Fetter-lane. Mr. Cooper, my daughter, sir--Miss Billsmethi, sir, who I
hope will have the pleasure of dancing many a quadrille, minuet, gavotte,
country-dance, fandango, double-hornpipe, and farinagholkajingo with you,
sir. She dances them all, sir; and so shall you, sir, before you're a
quarter older, sir.'

And Signor Bellsmethi slapped Mr. Augustus Cooper on the back, as if he
had known him a dozen years,--so friendly;--and Mr. Cooper bowed to the
young lady, and the young lady curtseyed to him, and Signor Billsmethi
said they were as handsome a pair as ever he'd wish to see; upon which
the young lady exclaimed, 'Lor, pa!' and blushed as red as Mr. Cooper
himself--you might have thought they were both standing under a red lamp
at a chemist's shop; and before Mr. Cooper went away it was settled that
he should join the family circle that very night--taking them just as
they were--no ceremony nor nonsense of that kind--and learn his positions
in order th