ess to argue the matter. The best thing I could do was to
let it alone, and allow her to imagine the scheme had been abandoned.

In this calculation I was correct. Some days afterwards, happening to
be in the parlour with her after breakfast, she said, "And when's your
grand party, as you call it, coming off, Mr Batchelor?"

I started up in rapture at the question.

"Then you _will_ help me, Mrs Nash?" I cried, running up to her, and
taking it all for granted.

She first looked amazed, then angry, and finally she smiled.

"I never said so. You're a sight too independent for my taste, you are.
_I_ ain't a-goin' to put my fingers into where I ain't wanted."

"But you _are_ wanted, and you will be a brick, I know!" cried I, almost
hugging her in my eagerness.

The battle was won, and that morning I went down to the office
positively jubilant. My party was fixed for Thursday!

I felt particularly important when the time came for inviting Doubleday
and Crow to the festive assembly. I had rehearsed as I walked along the
very words and tones I would use. On no account must they suppose the
giving of a party was the momentous event it really proved itself.

"By the way, Doubleday," said I, in as off-hand a manner as I could
assume, after some preliminary talk on different matters--"by the way,
could you come up to supper on Thursday? Just the usual lot, you know."

I could have kicked myself for the way I blushed and stammered as I was
delivering this short oration.

Doubleday gazed at me half curiously, half perplexed.

"Eh--supper? Oh, rather! Where's it to be? Mansion House or
Guildhall?"

I didn't like this. It wasn't what I had expected.

"Oh, up at my place, you know--Beadle Square," I said.

At this Doubleday fairly laughed.

"Supper at your place at Black Beadle Square? Oh, rather! I'll come.
You'll come too, Crow, eh? The young un's got a supper on on Thursday.
Oh, rather. Put me down for that, old man."

Could anything have been more mortifying? Most invitations are received
politely and graciously. What there was to laugh at about mine I
couldn't understand.

"Oh, yes, Crow's coming," I said, meekly. "At least I hope so."

"Oh, rather!" said Crow, beaming. "I wouldn't miss it for a lot. Is it
evening dress or what?"

I was too much disconcerted and crestfallen to answer the question, and
avoided my two prospective guests for the rest of the day.

Already I was half repent