'"What!" says the old gentleman, "not marry my daughter! Won't
you, Mooney? Not if I make her? Won't you? Won't you?"

'"No," says Mooney, "I won't. And if anybody asks me any more,
I'll run away, and never come back again."

'"Mr. Grig," says the old gentleman, "the stars must be obeyed.
You have not changed your mind because of a little girlish folly -
eh, Mr. Grig?"

'Tom, gentlemen, had had his eyes about him, and was pretty sure
that all this was a device and trick of the waiting-maid, to put
him off his inclination. He had seen her hiding and skipping about
the two doors, and had observed that a very little whispering from
her pacified the Salamander directly. "So," thinks Tom, "this is a
plot - but it won't fit."

'"Eh, Mr. Grig?" says the old gentleman.

'"Why, Sir," says Tom, pointing to the crucible, "if the soup's
nearly ready - "

'"Another hour beholds the consummation of our labours," returned
the old gentleman.

'"Very good," says Tom, with a mournful air. "It's only for two
months, but I may as well be the richest man in the world even for
that time. I'm not particular, I'll take her, Sir. I'll take
her."