128 PASSAGE IN THE LIFE OF MR. WATKINS TOTTLE. 



Mr. Gabriel Parsons walked up and down the room for a few se- 

 conds before he could make up his mind to disclose the plan he had 

 formed ; he was accustomed to drive hard bargains, but was always 

 most anxious to conceal his avarice ; at length he stopped short, and 

 said, " Tottle, you owe me fifty pounds." 



" I do." 



" And from all I see, I infer that you are likely to owe it me." 



" I fear I am." 



" Though you have every disposition to pay me if you could ?" 



" Certainly/' 



" Then," said Mr. Gabriel Parsons, " listen ; here's my proposition. 

 You know my way of old. Accept it yes or no I will or I wont. 

 I'll pay the debt and costs, and I'll lend you 10/. more (which, added 

 to your annuity, will enable you to carry on the war well), if you'll 

 give me your note of hand to pay me one hundred and fifty pounds 

 within six months after you are married to Miss Lillerton." 



" My dear " 



" Stop a minute on one condition ; and that is, that you propose 

 to Miss Lillerton at once." 



" At once ! My dear Parsons, consider." 



" It's for you to consider, not me. She knows you well from re- 

 putation, though she did not know you personally, until lately. Not- 

 withstanding all her maiden modesty, I think she'd be devilish glad 

 to get married, out of hand, with as little delay as possible. My wife 

 has sounded her on the subject, and she has confessed/' 



" What what ?" eagerly interrupted the enamoured Watkins." 



" Why/' replied Parsons, " to say exactly what she has confessed, 

 would be rather difficult, because they only spoke in hints, and so 

 forth ; but my wife, who is no bad judge in these cases, declared to 

 me that what she had confessed was as good as to say, that she was 

 not insensible of your merits in fact, that no other man should have 

 her." 



Mr. Watkins Tottle rose hastily from his seat, and rang the bell. 



" What's that for ?" inquired Parsons. 



" I want to send the man for the bill stamp," replied Mr. Watkins 

 Tottle. 



(t Then you've made up your mind ?" 



" I have," and they shook hands most cordially. The note of 

 hand was given the debt and costs were paid Ikey was satisfied 

 for his trouble, and the two friends soon found themselves on that 

 side of Mr. Solomon Jacobs' establishment, on which most of his vi- 

 sitors were very happy when they found themselves once again to 

 wit, the offside. 



" Now," said Mr. Gabriel Parsons, as they drove to Norwood to- 

 gether " you shall have an opportunity to make the disclosure to- 

 night ; and mind you speak out, Tottle." 



" I will I will !" replied Watkins, valorously. 



" How I should like to see you together," ejaculated Mr. Gabriel 

 Parsons " What fun !" and he laughed so long and so loudly, that 

 he disconcerted Mr. Watkins Tottle, and frightened the horse. 



" There's Fanny and your intended walking about on the lawn," 



