meant, have you noticed the attention that sailor-boy--(young Toodlebug
did you call him?) horrors! what a name--was paying to our Mattie?"

"Burg, my dear, not bug," rejoined Chapman.

"People are beginning to talk about it, and they say such things!" The
good woman blushed, and assumed an air of great seriousness. "The young
man may be well enough, but then the Toodlebugs are only a common Dutch
family."

"Toodleburgs, my dear, not bugs. The name makes a great difference with
some people," rejoined Chapman, correctively. "Very natural, my dear,
very natural. The most natural thing in the world for young people to
make love. And the most natural thing in the world is that people should
talk about it. It is according to the principles of true philosophy. You
must not be alarmed, my dear, when you see young people make love. Harm
rarely comes of it, and it generally ends in a very small affair."

"Yes, my dear," replied the good woman, "and experience has proved to me
that it sometimes ends in a very large affair. A little flirtation
between young people--"

"Should be encouraged, my darling," interrupted Chapman.

"I was going to say," she continued, "was not objectionable. But when
looks come to be serious, the equality of things should be enquired
into. Time's a coming when we may be rich, and live in New York, and be
somebody, and move with the best of people. I looks forward to it, my
dear; and I am sure the enterprises we have on hand will be a success.
It will never do to marry our daughter to a sailor-boy, to say nothing