HORATIO SFARKIN'S. 157 



" Rather a snub nose ?" 



" No," said the disappointed Teresa, ' he has a Roman nose." 



" I said a Roman nose, didn't I ?" inquired Flamwell. " He's an 

 elegant young man ?" 



" Oh, certainly." 



" With remarkably prepossessing manners ?" 



' Oh, yes !" said all the family together. tf You must know him." 



" Yes, I thought you knew him, if he was anybody," triumphantly 

 exclaimed Mr. Malderton. " Who d'ye think he is? " 



" Why, from your description," said Flamwell, ruminating, and 

 sinking his voice almost to a whisper, " he bears a strong resemblance 

 to the Honourable Augustus Fitz-Edward Fitz-John Fitz-Osborne. 

 He's a very talented young man, and rather eccentric. It's extremely 

 probable he may have changed his name for some temporary 

 purpose." 



Teresa's heart beat high. Could he be the Honourable Augustus 

 Fitz-Edward Fitz-John Fitz-Osborne ? What a name to be ele- 

 gantly engraved over two glazed cards, tied together with a piece of 

 white satin ribbon ! " The Honourable Mrs. Augustus Fitz-Edward 

 Fitz-John Fitz-Osborne!" The thought was transport. 



" It's five minutes to five," said Mr. Malderton, looking at his 

 watch : " I hope he's not going to disappoint us." 



" There he is !" exclaimed Miss Teresa, as a loud double-knock was 

 heard at the door. Every body endeavoured to look as people 

 when they particularly expect a visitor alway do as if they were per- 

 fectly unsuspicious of the approach of any one. 



The room door opened " Mr. Barton !" said the servant. 



" Confound the man," murmured Malderton. " Ah, my dear 

 sir, how d'ye do? Any news?" 



' Why, no," returned the grocer, in his usual honest, bluff man- 

 ner. " No, none parti ckler. None that I am much aware of. How 

 d'ye do, gals and boys ? Mr. Flamwell, sir glad to see you." 



" Here's Mr. Sparkins," said Tom, who had been looking out at the 

 window, " on such a black horse !" There was Horatio sure enough, 

 on a large black horse, curvetting and prancing along like an Astley's 

 supernumerary. After a great deal of reining in and pulling up, 

 with the usual accompaniments of snorting, rearing, and kicking, the 

 animal consented to stop at about a hundred yards from the gate, 

 where Mr. Sparkins dismounted and confided him to the care of Mr. 

 Malderton's groom. The ceremony of introduction was gone through 

 in all due form. Mr. Flamwell looked from behind his green spec- 

 tacles at Horatio with an air of mysterious importance ; and the gal- 

 lant Horatio looked unutterable things at Teresa, who tried in her 

 turn to appear uncommonly lackadaisycal. 



" Is he the Honourable Mr. Augustus what's his name?" whispered 

 Mrs. Malderton to Flamwell, as he was escorting her to the dining- 

 room. 



<c Why, no at least not exactly," returned that great authority 

 " not exactly." 



" Who is he then?" 



< Hush !" said Flamwell, nodding his head with a grave air, im- 

 porting that he knew very well ; but was prevented by some grave 



