ire. The family were
now staying in London, at ---- Street. More information than this, the
servant stated that he could not afford--he was certain that he had made
no mistake, for the Miss Langleys were the only very young ladies in the
house that morning--however, if Mr. Streatfield wished to speak to his
master, he was ready to carry any message with which he might be
charged.

But Mr. Streatfield had already heard enough for his purpose, and
departed at once for his club, determined to discover some means of
being introduced in due form to Miss Langley, before he slept that
night--though he should travel round the whole circle of his
acquaintance--high and low, rich and poor--in making the attempt.
Arrived at the club, he began to inquire resolutely, in all directions,
for a friend who knew Mr. Langley, of Langley Hall. He disturbed
gastronomic gentlemen at their dinner; he interrupted agricultural
gentlemen who were moaning over the prospects of the harvest; he
startled literary gentlemen who were deep in the critical mysteries of
the last Review; he invaded billiard-room, dressing-room, smoking-room;
he was more like a frantic ministerial whipper-in, hunting up stray
members for a division, than an ordinary man; and the oftener he was
defeated in his object, the more determined he was to succeed. At last,
just as he had vainly inquired of every body that he knew, just as he
was standing in the hall of the clubhouse thinking where he should go
next, a friend entered, who at once relieved him of all his
difficulties--a precious, an estimable man, who was on intimate terms
with Mr. Langley, and had been lately staying at Langley Hall. To this
friend all the lover's cares and anxieties were at once confided; and a
fitter depositary for such secrets of the heart could hardly have been
found. He made no jokes--for he was not a bachelor; he abstained from
shaking his head and recommending prudence--for he was not a seasoned
husband, or an experienced widower; what he really did was to enter
heart and soul into his friend's projects--for he was precisely in that
position, the only position, in which the male sex generally take a
proper interest in match-making: he was a newly married man.

Two days after, Mr. Streatfield was the happiest of mortals--he was
introduced to the lady of his love--to Miss Jane Langley. He really
enjoyed the priceless privilege of looking again on the face in the
balcony, and looking on it alm