"No. The beginning. I have visited
this remarkable family," said Dick, with
heightened colour, "more than once: more,
I may say, than twenty times. They grow,
sir——"

"I should have thought that impossible!"

"Hear me out—grow more and more,
upon me. Britannia (Susan, I mean) is an
angel! As she stood, with her broad white
hand on my horse's mane——"

"You are always on horseback?"

"I have never," said Mr. Longchild,
"mustered courage to disabuse her of the
idea she manifestly entertains, that I am
of a stature equal to her own. She would
not like to look down upon me. And
Harry," continued Dick, looking at me
with wistful interrogation: "She would
look down upon me, eh?"

"Well, physically, perhaps, yes. Intellectually——"

"Bah!" said Dick. "Now, Harry, you
know my sad history, and myself, well.
I put it to you, what chance, what hope,
have I in the world, of making this splendid
piece of nature my wife?"

"Knowing, as you say, my good friend,
both yourself, and what you style your sad
history, I affirm that you have every chance
and hope. You shall marry the object of
your singular passion."

"Harry!" exclaimed Dick, his really
noble face lighting up in every massive
lineament. "You good fellow! You give
me new life! Complete the work. Lend
me your assistance."

"Command it, in everything. If taking
you on my back in the momentous crisis
of proposal, would give you a sufficient
advantage in point of——"

"No jesting, if you love me," interrupted
Dick. "Come of it what may,
note that I am in earnest. I have set my
heart upon this girl, and if I seem—
timid, shall I call it?—it is because I do
not wish to throw a single chance away.
Susan Pettidoll is peculiarly sensitive, and
(no unusual thing with these finer natures)
keenly alive to the ridiculous. On my
horse, I am her emperor, her lord! On
the earth, beside her, what am I!"

"But, surely, she does not suppose that
she has been receiving the addresses of a
giant?"

"I, I, am not sure of that," interrupted
Dick, colouring slightly. "I may have
permitted myself allusions, tending vaguely,
in the most indirect manner, to foster that
supposition; and herein lies the difficulty
from which I rely upon your tried friendship,
Harry, to extricate me."

"Speak!"

"I am due," said Dick, gravely, "at
Trecorphen to-morrow; and sure I am
that the whole colossal fraternity entertain
the liveliest expectation that I shall then
formally demand my Susan's extensive
hand. You must visit, must see her, must
(kindly, but firmly) divorce her mind from
the cherished faith that my stature is
absolutely gigantic, or that I can even (speak
with perfect candour) hold my own among
her colossal kin. Succeed in this, and,"
concluded Dick, with quiet exultation, "I
will answer for the rest."

The next afternoon found me at
Trecorphen. The residence of the Pettidolls
was easy to discover. Everybody in the
sequestered village knew, and appeared to
hold in high respect, that giant family:
whose ancestors, I found, had been
substantial farmers in the vicinity.

My summons at the lofty portal was
answered by the young lady herself, in
whose fair large face I fancied I could
detect a slight shade of disappointment at
the appearance of love's ambassador
instead of love himself. She was decidedly
handsome, and, despite her amazing
stature, which fully confirmed Dick's
computation, was, nevertheless, as brisk and
graceful in her movements as a fairy!

A human mountain, designated as
"Brother Will," who appeared to have been
playing with the four-foot nursling,
presently vanished with his charge; and I
was left alone with Britannia to execute my
delicate mission.

Space forbids me to repeat, at length,
the conversation that ensued. Three
things became clear. First, that the
singular attachment was reciprocated;
secondly, that Miss Pettidoll was fully
prepared for the proposal I was empowered
to make; thirdly, that a persuasion that her
lover was of height commensurate with her
own, had full possession of her mind.

By way of preparation, I drew a moving
picture of my poor friend's present mental
condition, not to speak of that to which
he would infallibly be reduced, should
my mission, when fully declared, prove
ineffectual. Britannia was touched. She
even shed a mighty tear, avowing, with
quiet simplicity, that her happiness (as far
as she could judge of it), was involved in
this affair. But then, alas! her father, still
lying indisposed within, had peculiar views
with regard to his daughter's marriage,