re was "Johnson Brothers," "Johnson
and Co.," "Alfred Johnson and Son," and "Johnson and Johnson;" and in
one of those letters a suggestion was made that B., J., and R., of
London, should state plainly who was the special Johnson that had
gone off with the paper belonging to their house.

"I know we shall be detected," said Mr. Brown, upon whose feelings
these letters did not act favourably.

"There is nothing to detect," said Robinson; "but I will write a
letter to the editor."

This he did, stating that for reasons which must be quite obvious to
the commercial reading public, it would be very unwise in the present
state of affairs to give any detailed description of that Mr. Johnson
who had been named; but that B., J., and R. were very happy to
be able to certify that that Mr. Johnson who had failed in his
engagements to them was connected neither with Johnson Brothers, or
Johnson and Co.; nor with Alfred Johnson and Son, or Johnson and
Johnson. This also acted as an advertisement, and no doubt brought
grist to the mill.

On the evening of that same Friday a small note in a scented envelope
was found by Robinson on his table when he returned upstairs from the
shop. Well did he know the handwriting, and often in earlier days
had he opened such notes with mixed feelings of joy and triumph. All
those past letters had been kept by him, and were now lying under
lock and key in his desk, tied together with green silk, ready to be
returned when the absolute fact of that other marriage should have
become a certainty. He half made up his mind to return the present
missive unopened. He knew that good could not arise from a renewed
correspondence. Nevertheless, he tore asunder the envelope, and the
words which met his eye were as follows:--

Miss Brown's compliments to Mr. Robinson, and will Mr.
Robinson tea with us in papa's room on Saturday, at six
o'clock? There will be nobody else but Mr. and Mrs.
Poppins, that used to be Miss Twizzle. Papa, perhaps, will
have to go back to the shop when he's done tea. Miss Brown
hopes Mr. Robinson will remember old days, and not make
himself scornful.

"Scornful!" said he. "Ha! ha! Yes; I scorn her;--I do scorn her. But
still I love her." Then he sat down and accepted the invitation.

Mr. Robinson presents his compliments to Miss Brown, and
will do himself the honour of accepting her kind invitation
for to-morrow evening. Mr. Robinson begs to as