paper-cutter and paid the money after a feeble attempt at bargaining.

In the street they saw Mortimer, who had now allowed his hair to grow in
long, snake-like curls completely over his shoulders.

'For goodness' sake come away,' cried Beaumont, 'I do hate speaking to him
in the street, everybody stares so.'

The girls turned to fly, but the heavy lead was upon them, and in his most
nasal tones said:

'Well, my dear young ladies, engaged in the charming occupation of buying
nuptial gifts?'

'How very sharp you are, Mr. Mortimer,' answered Dolly in her pertest
manner; 'and what are you going to give? We should so much like to know.'

After a moment's hesitation he said, throwing up his chin after the manner
of a model sitting for a head of Christ:

'My dear young lady, you must not exhibit your curiosity in that way; it's
not modest.'

'But do tell us, Mr. Mortimer; you're a person of such good taste.'

The comic tragedian considered for a moment what he could say most
ill-natured and so get himself out of his difficulty.

'I tell you, young lady, I'm not decided, but I think that a copy of
Wesley's hymns bound up with the book of the _Grand Duchess_ might not