new channels of life. It was like him to seek
the sinews from one he had perjured so deeply
as myself and partner. But the boldness among
them of his order, is a bottomless pit.

I should calmly prelude, Sir, by stating, that
when me and Miss Mary no longer, united our
hands and hopes, discussions as to our path
naturally rose on the horizon. Candour would
forbid my denying that she has a sweet taste in
the milliners' business, as many a head-dress
from her hands associated with names of French
origin could testify, did her previous lady's
wardrobe speak sincerely of former days. We
sat on the subject; and alive to what is permanent
in fashions and what is momentary, "Mary,"
said I, "Bonnets is what all English females,
actuated by the pure dictates of their sex, must
subscribe to." Mr. Schmalz the courier, at
whom my Lord has flung his boots one hundred
times if once (as Mr. Clover, the butler of other
days, will authenticate in your venerable organ
of opinion if required), has mentioned that in
foreign parts, parties wear shawls and veils, and
sometimes go as bare as a fan and a flower, by
way of covering for the hair of nature and art;
but were these to be converted into examples?
Forbid it old English truth, and modesty and
decoration. Sir! as I am sure you will admit,
who never allow the language of our born enemies
to pollute your own fashionable and sweetly
popular fictions!

And thus it was agreed among us to organise
a Bonnet Emporium in an Arcade, which, not
being an Area Sneak, I do not publish its name.
But the deference of the promulgation of our
nuptial tie having been decided on, analogous
consequences ensued. It is more genteeler to
present bonnets on a plate, as executed by
Mademoiselle Mireille than as Mrs. Wignett.
Because every heart in your native home will
subscribe to the fact, that maiden names
attracts, however attesting be the flight of Time.
View our theatres, honoured Sir, and consider
what is requisite there! And excuses was
cogent in our peculiar case, owing to the course
which our chart of operations had agreed on itself
to take. It was of consequence that my antecedents
should repose in the background, out of
deference to prosperity in our conjoint undertaking.

Well, our Emporium was taken in the Arcade
—private residence being in other parts—and a
heinous expense having been incurred in a
frontispiece of plate-glass, which displayed the
offspring of my partner's taste, aided by a
Mademyselle from Paris (of whom I regret you will
have further to hear). She was complimented
by all the jealousy of the vicinity—so superior
was the style of our articles exposed. I was
backwards and forwards, under the guise of a
casual person; having entered into engagements
with several of the Exhibition people. Painting
gentlemen are sadly short of models to attract;
and a careless poetical cultivation of beard, now
emancipated from the thraldom of service,
imparted a new aspect to that of other days. So that
in my own sphere I was not seldom in request;
and will say that the pictures which was animated
by my presence attracted crowds in
Trafalgar Square (more of which if time and
diffidence permit at a future juncture). My
partner, too, observed that when I was
backwards and forwards—mostly sitting at the
Arcade, as a casual purchaser, and difficult to
please—those hours was the briskest as
regarded custom; sometimes to the amount of
plenteous ladies. Shops not frequented by
gentlemen are little thought of among the fair sex.

Judge, then, Sir, of my feelings, when—one
day, coming backwards and forwards as usual,
a little stiff with standing to Mr. Peeks, as
Sappho's youngest son, on the occasion of the
latter being struck with lightning—I finds, as
bold as brass, in instillation where I should have
been—the party, whom your bolt bursting from
its cloud judiciously entitled a snake—my downcast
cousin. Mings!!! Seedy indeed, he looked
so much so as to be disservient to the
Emporium; but no customers was present.
Mademyselle taking her meals up-stairs. And if
I was ever glad that those French females are
long and greedy over their food, I was glad
then—since Mings, I hoped, was only a passing
call, and I was determined to purvent it as
such. But a match for a snake, what
unarmed mortal can be?

"Timothy," said Mings, springing up from
my chair, so loud that half the Arcade could
hear it. "This is your game, is it? I thought
so, when I saw Mademysel Mireille, though she
wouldn't own it. O woman! woman!"

"Mings," said I, "after the ruin you have
wrought, be polite if you cannot be anything
solider. My wife and I are one." And I pulled
up the look of a Spartan, which I had been
requested to assume by Mr. Eager, when intent
on his great picture of Tiberius, in his ruins,
sitting on the domains of Carthage.

"Your wife!" and Mings he laughed like
the serpent as he is. "Your wife! Come, you
old Timothy, let us look into this. If so be you
are married, let us know why it is you are like the
ostrich that conceals its crest in the burning
strand of the Desert? We used to be in one
boat, and if so, why so no more? Is this to
be a secret among three, or two? And by the
way, if you have half-a-crown about you, hand
it over. I came out without change."

Who could have parried this? and yet if
daggers could have struck an individual to his
culpable heart, they was in my eyes, as I handed
over the silver to Mings. He endured as callous
as an icicle.

Well," says he, "Cousin Timothy, if this is
a secret marriage of yours, I do not see why I
should not be best man after the fact."

"Mings," says I, ''beware what you do, and
consider your end. In this abode, no more
Tancreds reside for traitors to photographicate.
We have parted, let it be once for all!"
And as I looked at the door, I looked at it
expressively, recollecting what had passed
when Mr. Bonerville was getting up his
picture of the Bride of Lammermoor, in which
I was accountable for the HERO'S posture.