that it needed nothing but a few Rembrances
and Leonardodavinchys, to make it perfect. As
I didn't know for certain what he meant, and
thought it might be some new kind of bath, or
boot-jack, I assented, and said I would get half
a dozen or so the first time I could stroll out
towards Soho. Sir Sampson smiled, and nearly
knocked me down a second time, by pressing
me to come to lunch on a certain day, when his
daughter would be ('From home' I thought)
delighted to show me some pictures, which might
guide my choice.

"We are approaching Cowes. I shall not, therefore,
attempt to describe the tumult of emotion in
which I passed the intervening time. I was,
however, sufficiently collected to reform my
wardrobe. My costume on the eventful day
was quietness itself, being, according to the
fastidious Jack, compounded of the undertaker
and the parish clerk.

"All that morning passed in a species of dream.
I knew that I was presented to Gloriana—that I
sat and talked with her and her father—goodness
only knows what I said—and that, after a
trying progress through the picture-gallery, in
which the rich music of Gloriana's voice kept me
entirely unconscious of the meaning of her
observations, we sat down to a sumptuous lunch.
A fourth cover had been laid. I supposed it
was for the dook. But we didn't wait for him,
and he didn't come.

"All this time, sir, though I was at the very
'eight of 'appiness, I felt that I was a fool. She
could never be more or less to me—poor half
educated fancy-soap man—than an object of
distant adoration, and, when my idol was
withdrawn, where should I be? I put on a strong
resolution, and, filling a bumper of port, I drank
her health and Sir Sampson's, and then said I
must go.

"' But, my dear Mr. Mr. Tiddijohn,' said the
general, ' this must not be your last visit. We
are not so easily satisfied. You must dine with
us, say to-morrow, if your numerous engagements
permit. You have not yet heard my
daughter's voice, you know.'

"I looked at her so quickly, that I caught her
knitting her beautiful brow at her father, as if
she didn't quite endorse his invitation. So I
began stammering an excuse. But Sir Sampson
would not listen. He put my numerous engagements
aside in no time, and I found myself,
on the following day, handing Gloriana in to
dinner. The same mysterious cover was laid
for a fourth party, but nobody came. The
dook, I thought, takes it very coolly!

"Miss Caliver was gentle and patronising—
sometimes, I thought, just a trifle sarcastic—but
what could I expect? If you come to that, what
business had I there at all?

"After she had left us, there was a pause. I
was afraid Sir Sampson was about to return to
the subject of the Rembrances and Somethingvinchys,
which I had discovered were pictures,
but, instead of that, he suddenly inquired:

' ' Pray, Mr. Tiddijohn, do you pay frequent
visits to your American estates?'

"I replied that I had not an acre of land of
my own, but that I had considerable sums
invested in the United States securities, which
retained a large income.

' ' I have always been of opinion,' resumed my
host, ' that a moderate income—say ten thousand
a year—is the most enjoyable and the least
embarrassing fortune that an English gentleman can
possess.'

"I remarked that I should be perfectly willing
at any time to risk the embarrassments
attendant upon such a state of things, but
hardly expected that the opportunity would
present itself.

"The general slightly raised his eyebrows.

"'I—excuse , me, sir,' he said, 'I do not
wish to be indiscreet, but I certainly heard—
from whom was it, some friend of yours, Lord
Fizgig?—that you were precisely in the enviable
situation I have mentioned?'

"I replied, frankly, that the partiality of Lord
Fizgig, whom I knew very well (by sight), had
perhaps exaggerated my possessions. I had six
thousand a year, my mother having contented
herself with one, which would ultimately revert
to me.

"Sir Sampson looked a little grave, but
seemed gratified by this candid statement, and
shook hands with me across the corner of the
table.

"' You will excuse, my young friend,' he
said, kindly, ' the interest I—and I think I must
say my daughter also—feel in the prosperity of
one who has given such proofs of a high and
noble nature. And permit me, while on this
subject, to express my astonishment that Mr.
Tiddijohn has not hitherto formed some
matrimonial alliance befitting his wealth and
station,'

"Mr. Tiddijohn's heart gave a slight bound.
Does he, can he, recognise the possibility of my
contending for such a prize as he speaks of—as
—as, for instance, his own peerless child?

"I hesitated, and mumbled something in my
frank way about uneducated tastes, humble
desires, &c.

"' Come, come, my good friend, that won't do,
you know,' said the general, good humouredly,
'nobility has claims; so has wealth. Many a
titled damsel (did she know your personal worth
as well as we) would willingly exchange her
ancient name for that of Tiddijohn! But
perhaps you do not care for titles and ancient
lineage?'

"I honestly avowed that I cared for neither.
To possess the object of one's idola—that is to
say, preference—was, in my opinion, the climax
of human felicity.

"'And such an idolatrous preference you
have formed, eh, Tiddijohn?' said the general,
with a smile. ' Ah! you hesitate. You colour.
How is this? Come, I am an old man of the
world; you are a young one. We are not