Mr. and Mrs. Sparkler. 149 



that one always associates with a clean bill of health, and 

 a good digestion. 



'' You really think he is as well off as they say, do 

 you ? " said Mrs. Timmins, in a careless, indifferent, sort 

 of manner, as if it was quite immaterial to her one way 

 or the other, though in reality she was at that moment 

 turning over in her mind which of her girls would be 

 most likely to suit the young millionaire. 



" Pooh ! " replied Mrs. Gapeseed, pursing up her lips 

 as she spoke, *' I know it for a fact — a pos-i-tive fact, my 

 dear. Oh, yes. As I was on my way here, I met Mr. 

 Sheepshanks, Lord Stiffnecke's agent ; so I immediately 

 pulled the check string, stopped the carriage, and asked 

 him all about it, and he very kindly gave me e-very 

 information, full particulars, in fact, I may say." 



*' Really !'' replied Mrs. Timmins, "I merely asked, 

 you know, for people do exaggerate so about that sort of 

 thing, that one hardly knows sometimes what to believe." 



'* Yes ; he is even richer than we gave him credit for, 

 according to Mr. Sheepshanks. His father, who died 

 some few years ago, left behind him an e-normous fortune ; 

 every penny of which came to this young fellow when he 

 attained his majority, only a few months since. About 

 two hundred thousand pounds, Mr. Sheepshanks thinks. 

 Two — hundred — thousand — pounds! Think of that!'' 

 exclaimed Mrs. Gapeseed, once more exhibiting her 

 gambogey eyeballs to the assembled company. 



" Has Mister Sparkler ' h\-ewe ' blood in his veins — 

 that is to say, is he of good family — well-born, in 

 fact ? " simpered Mrs. Timmins, in her most affected 

 manner. 



(Not possessing a very large quantity of the particular 



