At the moment, who should glide past me--not seeing me, as I
thought--but the very gypsey child who had brought that foolish bouquet,
and that stupid note!

I resolved, taking a minute's counsel with myself, to discover the
individual who had employed the gypsey; so followed the child, who
suddenly seemed to guess my determination. "Want a nosegay, Ma'am?" said
the girl. "Buy a nosegay to get me a bit of bread."

"Now, if I buy this nosegay"--and the little creature looked at me with
her glittering eyes, as much as to say--in her artful manner--she was
quite a match for me--"Will you tell me the truth?"

"Yes, lady; that I will, whether you buy or not, and sixpence will be
cheap at the money."

"Well, then, who told you to bring me that nosegay yesterday?"

"Oh," cried the perplexing creature, with a burst of enjoyment, jumping
up and down--"such a gen'l'man! Give me a shilling."

"And how did you know me--I mean, did he point me out to you?"--

"Yes;" answered the little elf--for she looked to me like a mischievous
sprite, she laughed as I thought so wickedly--"yes: you was with
another."

"Another?"--

"Yes: but that was in the fore-part of the day; and you both went away
so quick, that you give me no chance; and the gen'l'man called me back.
When I seed you in the arternoon, then I give it you."

"And what sort of a--a gentleman?"

"He's now a walking--or was a walking just by the--but would you like to
see him?"

"No; certainly not."

"'Cause you can. Give me sixpence, and I'll shew him you, and say
nothin'--not a word, my lady. Only round here--'tisn't a minute. I'll
walk first."

Without a thought, I was about to follow the child, when FREDERICK
coming behind me, laid his hand upon my arm. "LOTTY, my dear," and
without looking at him, I thought I should have dropped at his voice.

"FREDERICK!"

"Not going to have your fortune told?" and he glanced at the gypsey.

"My dear FRED, this, you will remember, is the child that"--

"I know," said FRED, as the gypsey with a caper took to her heels. "I
know; but LOTTY, my love, you have surely forgotten an old friend? My
bridesman, TOM TRUEPENNY."

It was MR. TRUEPENNY. He had come to Brighton upon business; FRED saw
him as he alighted from the coach. "He didn't want to break upon us,"
said FRED: "for you know what a shy, modest fellow TOM is; but I said
you'd be delighted to see him."

"Delighted, indeed, FRED," said I.

"Delighted, indeed,"