is forehead, just over his eyes, in illustration of
his meaning. 'I know the front's black; I can't speak quite positively
about her own hair; because, unless one walks behind her, and catches a
glimpse of it under her bonnet, one seldom sees it; but I should say that
it was _rather_ lighter than the front--a shade of a greyish tinge,
perhaps.'

Mr. Watkins Tottle looked as if he had certain misgivings of mind. Mr.
Gabriel Parsons perceived it, and thought it would be safe to begin the
next attack without delay.

'Now, were you ever in love, Tottle?' he inquired.

Mr. Watkins Tottle blushed up to the eyes, and down to the chin, and
exhibited a most extensive combination of colours as he confessed the
soft impeachment.

'I suppose you popped the question, more than once, when you were a
young--I beg your pardon--a younger--man,' said Parsons.

'Never in my life!' replied his friend, apparently indignant at being
suspected of such an act. 'Never! The fact is, that I entertain, as you
know, peculiar opinions on these subjects. I am not afraid of ladies,
young or old--far from it; but, I think, that in compliance with the
custom of the present day, they allow too much freedom of speech and
manner to marriageable men. Now, the fact is, that anything like this
easy freedom I never could acquire; and as I am always afraid of going
too far, I am generally, I dare say, considered formal and cold.'

'I shouldn't wonder if you were,' replied Parsons, gravely; 'I shouldn't
wonder. However, you'll be all right in this case; for the strictness
and delicacy of this lady's ideas greatly exceed your own. Lord bless
you, why, when she came to our house, there was an old portrait of some
man or other, with two large, black, staring eyes, hanging up in her
bedroom; she positively refused to go to bed there, till it was taken
down, considering it decidedly wrong.'

'I think so, too,' said Mr. Watkins Tottle; 'certainly.'

'And then, the other night--I never laughed so much in my life'--resumed
Mr. Gabriel Parsons; 'I had driven home in an easterly wind, and caught a
devil of a face-ache. Well; as Fanny--that's Mrs. Parsons, you know--and
this friend of hers, and I, and Frank Ross, were playing a rubber, I
said, jokingly, that when I went to bed I should wrap my head in Fanny's
flannel petticoat. She instantly threw up her cards, and left the room.'

'Quite right!' said Mr. Watkins Tottle; 'she could not possibly have
beh