perfumes at your shop. We are going to dine, next week, all our
set, at Mealy-faced Bob's, and you shall be my guest," cried the
Captain, slapping the delighted artist on the back. "And now, my
boy, tell me how YOU spent the evening."

"At my club, sir," answered Mr. Eglantine, blushing rather.

"What! not at the play with the lovely black-eyed Miss--What is her
name, Eglantine?

"Never mind her name, Captain," replied Eglantine, partly from
prudence and partly from shame. He had not the heart to own it was
Crump, and he did not care that the Captain should know more of his
destined bride.

"You wish to keep the five thousand to yourself--eh, you rogue?"
responded the Captain, with a good-humoured air, although
exceedingly mortified; for, to say the truth, he had put himself to
the trouble of telling the above long story of the dinner, and of
promising to introduce Eglantine to the lords, solely that he might
elicit from that gentleman's good-humour some further particulars
regarding the young lady with the billiard-ball eyes. It was for
the very same reason, too, that he had made the attempt at
reconciliation with Mr. Mossrose which had just so signally failed.
Nor would the reader, did he know Mr. W. better, at all require to
have the above explanation; but as yet we are only at the first
chapter of his history, and who is to know what the hero's motives
can be unless we take the trouble to explain?

Well, the little dignified answer of the worthy dealer in bergamot,