IY 



THE THREE RAVENS. 489 



With a very peculiar flourish did Nonsuch jerk the razor over his 

 beard on the following morning ; and with a more than usual atten- 

 tion was every appointment of the outward man arranged and dis- 

 posed. Leaving his shop to the management, pro tempore, of the 

 corpulent apprentice, Nonsuch sallied forth with almost fairy lightness 

 of footfall, bending his way towards the churchyard. He was not mis- 

 taken. Miss Niobe Raven was already there ; she started, and turned 

 blue with a slight admixture of green, and prepared to flee, but Non- 

 such detained her with his persuasive tongue. 



" Am I then so odious, dear Miss Raven?" he murmured, and seizing 

 her hand, he led her to a convenient flat grave-stone, under which 

 reposed (perhaps) the remains of Wiggles the surveyor " sit down 

 one moment, I entreat, and let me confess all." 



" Your meaning is mysterious, Sir," said Miss Raven, inclining her 

 ear towards him " explain yourself.'* 



" Let me elucidate," cried Narcissus ; " you love me nay, deny it 

 not else why that excusable fiction concerning the letters you blush ; 

 but perhaps there was no other method of loosening my tongue-tied 

 diffidence. Why, however, did your respected parents why did that 

 worthy couple refer the matter to Stoat ? there I am destroyed." 

 " How so, Mr. Narcissus ?" demanded the lady. 

 <e Let not that cold word ' Mister' be permitted in your discourse ; 

 call me Nonsuch dear Nonsuch I have loved you long let us 

 elope." 



" Elope !" screamed Miss Niobe, opening and anon closing with 

 sweet confusion her eyes, which, in the latter predicament, looked like 

 two black gaiter button-holes " Oh ! Mr. Nonsuch, fie ! fie !" 



"What would the world say," cried Nonsuch, with animation, 

 te should I be tamely led to the altar like a sheep to the slaughter ? 

 The neighbourhood is, no doubt, already aware of the contemplated 

 proceedings against me ; let us mystify them let us consult our own 

 inclinations let us tie the knot at once let us proceed with the cere- 

 mony without any ceremony." 



Miss Raven was balancing the matter upon the point of her mind, 

 when Nonsuch destroyed the prudential equilibrium by a coup de 

 main. 



" I have no time to wait," he cried, " the shop requires my pre- 

 sence. She smiled with grim satisfaction "your shop," he added, 

 tenderly taking her hand, which he pressed devoutly. A reciprocal 

 pressure assured him. 



" Say that you consent," he whispered. 

 " I do/' was the soft and complying response. 



" Meet me then," cried Nonsuch, eagerly, " at the end of Gaffer- 

 lane to-morrow morning, six o'clock j a license, and a licensed post- 

 chaise shall be ready for you. Here comes Gargle, the apothecary- 

 Farewell !" 



Darting down the yew-tree walk, Nonsuch was out of sight in a 

 moment. 



On the evening of that eventful diurnal period, the sun took a cold 

 bath as usual (for he is very regular in his habits), and arose "with 

 shining morning face/' punctually at four o'clock on the following day. 



