overed as to be able to go down
into the country, vowing, much to the chagrin of his wife, that he never
would put his foot in London again. He asked me whether I knew any
place where there were _no mad bulls_, and I took some trouble to find
out, but I could not; for even if he went to the North Pole, although
there were no bulls, yet there were bull bisons and musk bulls, which
were even more savage. Upon which he declared that this was not a world
to live in; and to prove that he was sincere in his opinion, poor
fellow, about three months after his retirement into the country, he
died from a general decay, arising from the shock produced on his
system. But before these three months had passed, it had been finally
arranged that Harcourt and I were to be united on the same day; and
having renewed my acquaintance with the good bishop, whom I had taxed
with being my father, he united us both to our respective partners. My
father made over to me the sum which he had mentioned. Mr Masterton
gave Susannah ten thousand pounds, and her own fortune amounted to as
much more, with the reversion of Mr Cophagus's property at the decease
of his widow. Timothy came up to the wedding, and I formally put him in
the possession of my shop and stock in trade, and he has now a
flourishing business. Although he has not yet found his mother, he has
found a very pretty wife, which he says does quite as well, if not
better.

Let it not be supposed that I forgot the good services of Kathleen--who
was soon after married to Corny. A small farm on Fleta's estate was
appropriated to them, at so low a rent, that in a few years they were
able to purchase the property; and Corny, from a leveller, as soon as he
was comfortable, became one of the government's firmest supporters.

I am now living in the same house with my father, who is very happy, and
behaves pretty well. He is seldom in a passion more than twice a week,
which we consider as miraculous. Now that I am writing this, he has his
two grandchildren on his knees. Mrs Cophagus has married a captain in
the Life Guards, and as far as fashion and dress are concerned, may be
said to be "going the whole hog." And now, as I have no doubt that my
readers will be curious to know whether my lovely wife adheres to her
primitive style of dress, I shall only repeat a conversation of
yesterday night, as she came down arrayed for a splendid ball given by
Mrs Harcourt de Clare.

"Tell me now,