136 PASSAGE IN THE LIFE OF MR. WATKINS TOTTLK. 



" From Miss Lillerton !" said Timson, suddenly changing colour. 

 " Pray sit down." 



Mr. Watkin's Tottle sat down, and while Timson perused the 

 note, fixed his eyes on an oyster-sauce-coloured portrait of the Arch- 

 bishop of Canterbury, which hung over the fire-place. 



Mr. Timson rose from his seat when he had concluded the note, 

 and looked dubiously at Parsons" May I ask," he inquired, ap- 

 pealing to Watkins Tottle, ft whether our friend here is acquainted 

 with the object of your visit?" 



" Our friend is in my confidence," replied Watkins with consider- 

 able importance. 



" Then, Sir," said Timson, seizing both Tottle's hands, " allow 

 me in his presence to thank you, most unfeignedly and cordially, for 

 the noble part you have acted ia this affair." 



" He thinks I recommended him," thought Tottle. " Confound 

 these fellows, they never think of any thing but their fees." 



" I deeply regret having misunderstood your intentions, my dear 

 Sir," continued Timson. " Disinterested and manly indeed ! There 

 are very few men who would have acted as you have done." 



Mr. Watkins Tottle could not help thinking that this last remark 

 was any think but complimentary. He therefore inquired rather 

 hastily, " When is it to be ?" 



" On Thursday," replied Timson" " on Thursday morning at 

 half-past-eight. ' ' 



" Uncommonly early," observed Watkins Tottle, with an air of 

 triumphant self-denial. " I shall hardly be able to get down here by 

 that hour." (This was intended for a joke.) 



"Never mind, my dear fellow," replied Timson, all suavity, 

 shaking hands with Tottle again most heartily, " so long as we see 

 you to breakfast, you know " 



" Eh !" said Parsons, with one of the most extraordinary expres- 

 sions of countenance that ever appeared on the human face. 



"What!" ejaculated Watkins Tottle, at the same moment. 



" I say that so long as we see you to breakfast," repeated Timson, 

 "we will excuse your being absent from the ceremony, though of 

 course your presence at it would give us the utmost pleasure." 



Mr. Watkins Tottle staggered against the wall, and fixed his eyes 

 on Timson, with apalling perseverance. 



" Timson/' said Parsons, hurriedly brushing his hat with his left 

 arm, "when you say ' us,' whom do you mean?" 



Mr. Timson looked foolish in his turn, when he replied, " Why- 

 Mrs. Timson that will be this day week ; Miss Lillerton that is" 



" Now don't stare at that idiot in the corner," angrily exclaimed 

 Parsons, as the extraordinary convulsions of Watkins Tottle's coun- 

 tenance excited the wondering gaze of Timson, " but have the good- 

 ness to tell me in three words the contents of that note." 



" This note," replied Timson, " is from Miss Lillerton, to whom I 

 have been for the last five weeks regularly engaged. Her singular 

 scruples and strange feeling on some points have hitherto prevented 

 my bringing the engagement to that termination which I so anxiously 

 desire. She informs me here, that she sounded Mrs. Parsons, with 



