134 PASSAGE IN THE LIFE OF MR. WATKINS TOTTLE. 



" Our acquaintance has been of so short duration/' said Miss 

 Lillerton. 



" Only a week," assented Watkins Tottle. 



" Oh ! more than that/' exclaimed the lady, in a tone of surprise. 



"Indeed!" said Tottle. 



" More than a month more than two months !" said Miss Lillerton. 



Rather odd, this, thought Watkins. 



" Oh !" he said, recollecting Parsons' assurance that she had 

 known him from report, " I understand. But, my dear Madam, 

 pray consider. The longer this acquaintance has existed, the less 

 reason is there for delay now. Why not at once fix a period 

 for gratifying the hopes of your devoted admirer ?" 



" It has been represented to me again and again that this is the 

 course I ought to pursue/' replied Miss Lillerton, " but pardon my 

 feelings of delicacy, Mr. Tottle pray excuse this embarrassment I 

 have peculiar ideas on such subjects, and I am quite sure that 

 I never could summon up fortitude enough to name the day to my 

 future husband." 



" Then allow me to name it," said Tottle, eagerly. 



tf I should like to fix it myself," replied Miss Lillerton, bashfully, 

 " but I cannot do so without at once resorting to a third party." 



" A third party !" thought Watkins Tottle, " who the deuce is 

 that to be, I wonder ?" 



" Mr. Tottle," continued Miss Lillerton, " you have made me a 

 most disinterested and kind offer that offer I accept. Will you, at 

 once, be the bearer of a note from me to to Mr. Timson ?" 



" Mr. Timson !" said Watkins. 



" After what has passed between us/' responded Miss Lillerton, 

 still averting her head, " you must understand whom I mean ; Mr. 

 Timson, the the clergyman." 



" Mr. Timsori, the clergyman !" ejaculated Watkins Tottle, in a 

 state of inexpressible beatitude, and positive wonder at his own 

 success. " Angel ! Certainly this moment !" 



" I'll prepare it immediately," said Miss Lillerton, making for the 

 door; " the events of this day have flurried me so much, Mr. Tottle, 

 that I shall not leave my room again this evening ; I will send you 

 the note by the servant." 



" Stay stay/' cried Watkins Tottle, still keeping a most respectful 

 distance from the lady ; " when shall we meet again ?" 



" Oh ! Mr. Tottle," replied Miss Lillerton, coquettishly, " when 

 we are married, I can never see you too often, or thank you too 

 much ;" and she left the room. 



Mr. Watkins Tottle flung himself into an arm-chair, and indulged 

 in the most delicious reveries of future bliss, in which the idea 

 of " Five hundred pounds per annum, with an uncontrolled power 

 of disposing of it, by her last will and testament/' was somehow or 

 other the foremost. He had gone through the interview so well, and 

 it had terminated so admirably, that he almost began to wish he had 

 expressly stipulated for the settlement of the annual five hundred on 

 himself. 



"May I come in?" said Mr. Gabriel Parsons, peeping in at 

 the door. 



