on me!”

a

а

same mournful tone, addressing her o Oh-1-1-why-you see~I husband, «

you haven't of course for don't exactly think that signifies so got the lace for my new bonnet ?” much-He will see her next Sunday.”

• Never once thought of it,” replied “ So then he's positively coming ?" Tag-rag, doggedly.

“ Y-MS_I've no doubt.”-(I'll s You haven't! Good gracious ! discharge Lutestring to-morrow, what am I to go to chapel in next thought Tag-rag.) Sunday!” she exclaimed, with sudden « But aren't we counting our alarm, closing her book, “and our chickens, Tag, before they're seat in the very front of the gallery!- hatched ? If Titmouse is all of a bless me! I shall have a hundred eyes sudden become such a catch, he'll be

snapped up in a minute." “ Now that you're coming down a Why, you see, Dolly-we're first bit, and dropped out of the clouds, in the market, I'm sure of that—his Dolly," said her husband, much re- attorney tells me he's to be kept quite lieved, " I'll tell you a bit of news snug and quiet under my care for that will, I fancy, rather"

months, and see no one.- So when he • Come! what is it, Tag ?” eagerly once gets sight of Tabby, and gets enquired his wife.

into her company-eh! Tab, sweet! “ What should you say of a chance you'll do the rest-hem!” of a certain somebody" (here he looked “ La, pa! how you go on!” simunutterable things at his daughter) pered Miss Tag-rag. 66 that shall be nameless, becoming “ You must do your part, Tab," mistress of ten thousand a year?” said her father_" we'll do ours.

“ Why"- Mrs Tag-rag changed He'll bite, you may depend on it!" colour_“ has any one fallen in love “ What sort of a looking young man with Tab?”

is he, dear pa ?” enquired Miss Tag• What should you say of our Tab rag, blushing, and her heart fluttering marrying a man with ten thousand a.

very

fast. year? There's for you! Isn't that “Oh, you must have seen him, better than all your religion?"

sweetest “ Oh Tag, don't say that; but”- “ How should I ever notice any here she hastily turned down the leaf, one of the lots of young men at the of Groans from the Bottomless Pit, shop, pa ?—I don't at all know bim!" and tossed that inestimable work upon 6 Well_he's the handsomest, most the sofa—“ do tell me, lovy! what are genteel-looking fellow I ever came you talking about?”

across; he's long been an ornament " What indeed, Dolly !- I'm going to my establishment, for his good looks to have him here to dinner next Sun- and civil and obliging manners”. day.”

“ Dear me," interrupted Mrs Tag. Miss Tag-rag having been listening rag, anxiously addressing her daughter, with breathless eagerness to this little “ I hope, Tabby, that Miss Nix will colloquy between her prudent and send home your lilac-coloured frock by amiable parents, unconscious of what next Sunday." she was about, poured all the tea into “ If she don't, ma, I'll take care the sugar-basin.

she never makes any thing more for “ Have who, dear Tag ?” enquired

me." Mrs Tag-rag impatiently.

66 We'll call there to-morrow, love, • Who? why whom but Tittlebat and hurry her on," said her mother ; Titmouse!! You've seen him, and and from that moment until eleven heard me speak of him.”

o'clock, when the amiable and inte6. What!--that odious, nasty" resting trio retired to rest, nothing

“ Hush, hush!” involuntarily ex. was talked of but the charming Titclaimed Tag-rag, with an apprehen. mouse, and the good fortune he so sive air—" That's all past and gone- richly deserved, and how long the I was always too hard on him. Well courtship was likely to last. Mrs -he's turned up all of a sudden Tag-rag, who, for the last month or master of ten thousand a-year-He so, had always remained has, indeed-you'll see if he hasn't!" knees before getting into bed, for

Mrs Tag.rag and her daughter sat at least ten minutes, on this eventin speechless wonder.

ful evening compressed her prayers, "Where did he see Tab, Taggy?" I regret to say, into one minute enquired at length Mra Tag-rag. and a half's time, (as for Tag-rag, a

on her

a

a

bardened heathen, he always tumbled understand me, Mr Titmouse ?" Titprayerless into bed, the moment he was mouse continued looking on the floor, undressed ;) while, for once in a way, incredulously and sheepishly. Miss Tag-rag, having taken only half Very much obliged, sir_but an hour to put her bair into papers, must say you've rather a funny way popped into bed directly she had blown of showing it, sir. Look at the sort of the candle out, without saying any life you've led me for this”. prayers or even thinking of finishing “Ah! knew you'd say so! But I the novel which lay under her pillow, can lay my hand on my heart, Mr and wbich she had got on the sly from Titmouse, and declare to God- I can, the circulating library of the late Miss indeed, Mr Titmouse” Titmouse Snooks. For several hours she lay in preserved a very embarrassing silence. a delicious reverie, imagining herself “ See I'm out of your good books, become Mrs Tittlebat Titmouse, rid- But-won't you forget and forgive, ing about Clapham in a handsome car. Mr Titmouse ? I meant well. Nay, riage, going to the play every night; I humbly beg forgiveness for every and what would the three Miss Knipps's thing you've not liked in me. Can I say when they heard of it—they'd say more? Come, Mr Titmouse, burst! And such a handsome man, you've a noble nature, and I ask fortoo!

giveness.” She sunk, at length, into uncon- “ You—you ought to do it before sciousness, amidst a soft confusion of the whole shop,” replied Titmouse, a glistening white satin — favours. little relenting—" for they've all seen bride'smaids- Mrs Tittlebat Tita

your goings on.” Tit-Tit_Tit- mouse.

• Them !-the brutes !--the vulgar Tittlebat, about half - past nine fellows! you and I, Mr Titmouse, are o'clock on the ensuing morning, was a leetle above them! D'ye think we sitting in his room in a somewhat dis- ought to mind what servants say?mal humour, musing on many things, Only say the word, and I make a clean and little imagining the intense inter. sweep of 'em all; you shall have the est he had excited in the feelings of premises to yourself, Mr Titmouse, the amiable occupants of Satin Lodge. within an hour after any of those A knock at his door startled him out chaps shows you disrespect." of his reverie. hold, on opening it,

Ah! I don't know you've used Mr Tag.rag!

me most uncommon bad-far worse “ Your most obedient, sir,” com. than they have-you've nearly broke menced that gentleman, in a subdued my heart, sir! You have !" and obsequious manner, plucking off “ Well, my womankind at home are his hat the instant that he saw Tit right, after all! They told me all along mouse. “ I hope you're better, sir ! I was going the wrong way to work, Been very uneasy, sir, about you." when I said how I tried to keep your

“ Please to walk in, sir," replied pride down, and prevent you from Titmouse, not a little fluttered—“ I'm having your head turned by knowing better, sir, thank you."

your good looks. My little girl has Happy to hear it, sir!_But am said, with tears in her dear eyes also come to offer humble apologies you'll break his spirit, dear papa-if for the rudeness of that upstart that he's handsome, wasn't it God that was so rude to you yesterday, at my made him so ?” The little frost-work premises know whom I mean, eh ? - which Titmouse had thrown around Lutestring—I shall get rid of him, I his heart, began to melt like snow do think"

under sunbeams.

6. The women are “ Thank you, sir

-But-but always right, Mr Titmouse, and we're when I was in your employ”. always wrong," continued Tag.rag,

“ Was in my employ !" interrupted earnestly, perceiving his advantage. Tag-rag, with a sigh" It's no use “ Upon my soul, I could kick mytrying to hide it any longer ! I've all self for my stupidity, and cruelty along seen you was a world too good too!" quite above your situation in my poor

“ Ah, I should think so ! No one shop ! I may have been wrong, Mr knows what I've suffered! And now Titmouse,” he continued, diffidently, that I'm--I suppose you've heard it all, as he placed himself on what seemed sir ?-what's in the wind—and all the only chair in the room_" but I that?" did it for the best-eh ?-don't you - l'es, sir-- Mr Gammon, (that

mouse.

most respectable gentleman,) and I his fingers with an air of defiance. have had a long talk yesterday about “ Your looks and manners would you, in which he did certainly tell me keep a shop full of customers-one every thing—nothing like confidence, Titmouse is worth a hundred of them.” Mr Titmouse, when gentleman meets “ You speak uncommon gentleman. gentleman, you know. It's really like, sir," said Titmouse, with a little delightful!"

excitement—"and if you'd only always “ Isn't it, sir ?" eagerly interrupted --but that's all past and gone ; and Titmouse, his eyes glistening with I've no objections to say at once, that sudden rapture.

all the articles I may want in your - Ah! ten thous-I must shake line I'll have at your establishment, hands with you, my dear Mr Tit- pay cash down, and ask for no discount. mouse ;" and for the first time in And I'll send all my friends, for, in their lives their hands touched, Tag- course, sir, you know I shall have rag squeezing that of Titmouse with lots of them!” energetic cordiality; while he added, “ Don't forget your oldest, your with a little emotion in his tone-- truest, your humblest friend, Mr Tit« Thomas Tag.rag may be a plain. mouse," said Tag-rag, with a cringing spoken and wrong-headed man, but air. he's a warm heart.”

6. That I won't!" “ And did Mr Gammon tell you [It flashed across his mind that a ull, sir ?" eagerly interrupted Tit- true and old friend would be only too

happy to lend him a ten-pound note.] “ Every thing-every thing ; quite " Hem!- Now, are you such a friend, confidential, I assure you, for he saw Mr Tag-rag ?" the interest I felt in you."

Am 1 ? — Can you doubt me? “ And did he say about my-hem! Try me! See what I could not do meh? my stopping a few weeks longer for you! Friend, indeed!" with you ?" enquired Titmouse, chag- “ Well, I believe you, sir! And the rin overspreading his features. fact is, a-a-a-you see, Mr Tag-rag,

“ I think he did, Mr Titmouse! though all this heap of money's coming He's bent on it, sir! And so would to me, I'm precious low just now.” any true friend of your's be-because “Y-e-e-e-S, Mr Titmouse," you see,” here he dropped his voice, quoth Tag-rag, anxiously ; his dull and looked very mysteriously at Tit- grey eye fixed on that of Titmouse mouse-"in short, I quite agree with steadfastly. Mr Gammon !”

• Wellif you've a mind to prove « Do you indeed, sir !" exclaimed your words, Mr Tag-rag, and don't Titmouse, with rather an uneasy look. mind advancing me a ten-pound

“ I do, i' faith! Why, they'd give note"thousands and thousands to get you “ Hem!” involuntarily uttered Tagout of the way—and what's money rag, so suddenly and violently, that it to them? But they must look very made Titmouse almost start off his sharp that get at you in the premises seat. Then Tag-rag's face flushed of Thomas Tag-rag.--Talking of that, over, he twirled about his watch-key ah, ha !-it will be a funny thing to rapidly, and wriggled about in his see you, Mr Titmouse-Sqnire Tit- chair with visible agitation. mouse-ah, ha, ha!"

" Oh, you aren't going to do it! If 5. You won't hardly expect me to go so, you'd better say it at once," quoth out with goods, I suppose, sir?" Titmouse, rather cavalierly.

“ Ha, ha, ha! -Ha, ha, ha!- Might " Why-was ever any thing so as well ask me if I'd set you to clean my unfortunate ?" stammered Tag-rag. shoes! No, no, my dear Mr Titmouse, - That cursed lot of French goods you and I have done as master and I bought only yesterday, to be paid servant; its only as friends that we for this very morning and it will know each other now.

drain me of every penny!" say and do whatever you like, and come “ Ah-yes ! True! Well, it don't and go when and where you like.--It's much signify," said Titmouse, caretrue it will make my other hands ra- lessly, running his hand through his ther jealous, and get me into trouble; hair. In fact, I needn't have bobut what do I care ? Suppose they thered an old friend ; Mr Gammon do all give me warning for your sake? says he's my banker to any amount. Let 'em go, say I !" He snapped I beg pardon, I'm sure".

You may

a

Tag-rag was in a dire dilemma. He watch. “ Time for me to be off. See felt so flustered by the suddenness and you soon at the shop ? Soon arrange seriousness of the thing, that he could that little matter of business, eh? not see his way plain in any direction. You understand ? Good-by! good.

“ Let me see,” at length he stam- by!” and shaking Titmouse cordially mered; and pulling a ready-reckoner by the hand, Tag-rag took his depart. out of his pocket, he affected to be ure. As he hurried on to his shop, he consulting it, as if to ascertain merely felt in a most painful perplexity about the state of his banker's account, but this loan of five pounds. It was truly really desiring a few moments' time to like squeezing five drops of blood out collect his thoughts. 'Twas in vain, of his heart. But what was to be done? however; nothing occurred to him ; Could he offend Titmouse ? Where he saw no way of escape ; his old was he to stop, if he once began ? Dare friend the devil deserted him for a he ask for security ? Suppose the moment-supplied him with no ready whole affair should turn into smoke ? lie. He must, he feared, cash up. Now, consider the folly of Tag-rag. “ Well,” said he—“ it certainly is rạ. Here was he in all this terrible pucker ther unfortunate, just at this precise about advancing five pounds on the moment; but I'll step to the shop, strength of prospects and chances and see how my ready-money matters which he had deemed safe for advenstand. It sha'n't be a trifle, Mr Tit- turing his daughter upon-her, the mouse, that shall stand between us. only object on earth, (except money,) But-if I should be hard run—perhaps that he regarded with any thing like -eh? Would a five-pound note do ?” sincere affection. How was this? The

“ Why—a—a—if it wouldn't suit splendour of the future possible good you to advance the ten".

fortune of his daughter, might, per"I dare say,” interrupted Tag-rag, haps, have dazzled and confused his a trifle relieved, “I shall be able to perceptions. Then, again, that was accommodate you. Perhaps you'll a remote contingency; but this sudden step on to the shop presently, and appeal to his pocket--the demand of then we can talk over matters. By an immediate outlay and venturethe

way, did you ever see any thing was an instant pressure, and he felt it 80 odd? forgot the main thing; come severely. Immediate profit and loss and take your mutton with me at Clap- was every thing to Tag-rag. He was, ham, next Sunday-my womankind in truth, a tradesman to his heart's will be quite delighted. Nay, 'tis

If he could have seen the im. their invitation-ha, ha!"

mediate quid pro quo-could have “ You're very kind," replied Tit. got, if only by way of earnest, as it mouse, colouring with pleasure. Here were, a bit of poor Titmouse's heart, seemed the first pale primrose of the and locked it up in his desk, he would coming spring—an invitation to Satin not have cared so much; it would Lodge.

have been a little in his line ;-but “ The kindness will be yours, Mr here was a Five-Pound Note going Titmouse. We shall be quite alone ; out forthwith, and nothing immediate, have you all to ourselves ; only me, visible, palpable, replacing it. Oh! my wife, and daughter-an only child, Titmouse had unconsciously pulled Mr Titmouse-such a child! She's Tag-rag's very heart-strings! really often said to me, "I wonder'- Observe, discriminating reader, that but, I won't make you vain, eh? there is all the difference in the world May I call it a fixture ?"

between a TradesMAN and a Mer"'Pon my life, Mr Tag-rag, you're chant; and, moreover, that it is not monstrous uncommon polite. It's every tradesman that is a Tag-rag. true, I was going to dine with Mr All these considerations combined Gammon

to keep Tag-rag in a perfect fever of “Oh! pho! (I mean no disrespect, doubt and anxiety, which several mind!) he's only a bachelor --I've hearty curses failed in effectually reladies in the case, and all that-eh, Mr lieving. By the time, however, that Titmouse ? and a young one.”

Titmouse had made his appearance, “Well-thank you, sir. Since your with a sufficiently sheepish air, and was 80 pressing"-

beginning to run the gauntlet of grin“ That's it! An engagement - ning contempt from the choice youths Satin Lodge-for Sunday next," said on each side of the shop, Tag-rag had Tag-rag, rising and looking at his determined on the course he should

core.

a

pursue in the matter above referred Titmouse, for the remainder of the to. To the amazement and disgust day, felt, as may be imagined, but of all present, Tag.rag bolted out of little at his ease ; for—to say nothing a little counting-house or side-room, of his insuperable repugpance to the hastened to meet Titmouse with out- discharge of any of his former duties; stretched hand and cordial speech, bis uneasiness under the oppressive drew him into his little room, and shut civilities of Mr Tag-rag ; and the the door. There Tag-rag informed evident disgust towards him enterhis flurried young friend that he had tained by his companions ;- many made arrangements (with a little in- most important considerations arising convenience, which signified nothing) out of recent and coming events, were for lending Titmouse five pounds. momentarily forcing themselves upon

“And, as life's uncertain, my dear Mr his attention. The first of these was Titmouse," said Tag-rag, as Titmouse, his hair ; for Heaven seemed to have with evidentecstasy, put the five-pound suddenly given him the long-coveted note into his pocket-"even between means of changing its detested hue; the dearest friends---eh? Understand? and the next was—an eyeglass, withIt's not you I fear, nor you me, be- out which, he had long felt his apcause we've confidence in each other. pearance and appointments to be But if any thing should happen, those painfully incomplete. Early in the we leave behind us"--Here he took afternoon, therefore, on the readily. out of his desk an I. 0. U. £5, admitted plea of important business, ready drawn up and dated—“ a mere he obtained the permission of the obslip—a word or two-is satisfaction sequious Tag-rag to depart for the to both of us.”

day; and instantly directed his steps “ Oh yes, sir! yes, sir!-any thing!” to the well known shop of a fashionsaid Titmouse ; and hastily taking able perfumer and perruquier, in the pen proferred him, signed his Bond Street-well known to those, at name, on which Tag-rag felt a little least, who were in the habit of glanrelieved. Lutestring was then sum- cing at the enticing advertisements in moned into the room, and then (not a the newspapers,

Having watched little to his astonishment) addressed through the window till the coast was by his imperious employer. “ Mr clear, (for he felt a natural delicacy Lutestring, you will have the good- in asking for a hair dye before people ness to see that Mr Titmouse is treated who could in an instant perceive his by every person in my establishment urgent occasion for it), he entered with the utmost respect. Whoever the shop, where a well-dressed gentle. treats this gentleman with the slightest man was sitting behind the counter, disrespect, isn't any longer a servant reading.

handsome ;

and his of mine. D'ye hear me, Mr Lute- elaborately curled hair was of a heastring?" added Tag-rag, sternly, ob- venly black (so at least Titmouse serving a very significant glance of considered it) that was better than a intense hatred which Lutestring di- thousand printed advertisements of ·rected towards Titmouse. “ D'ye the celebrated fluid which formed the hear me, sir?"

chief commodity there vended. Titsir! yes, sir !-your mouse, with a little hesitation, asked orders shall be attended to.” And this gentleman what was the price of leaving the room, with a half-audible their article “ for turning light hair whistle of contempt, while a grin black”—and was answered" only overspread his features, he had within

seven and sixpence for the smallerfive minutes filled the mind of every sized bottle.” “One was in a twinkling shopman in the establishment with placed upon the counter-where it lay feelings of mingled wonder, hatred, like a miniature mummy, swathed, as and fear towards Titmouse. What it were, in manifold advertisements. could have happened? What was

5. You'll find the fullest directions Mr Tag.rag about ? This was all of within, and testimonials from the a piece with his rage at Lutestring highest nobility to the wonderful effi. the day before. “D--d Titmouse ! cacy of the • CYANOCHAITANTHROPOsaid or thought every one.

a

He was

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- Oh, yes,

a

POIon.'"*

* This fearful-looking word, I wish to inform my lady readers, is a monstrous amalgamation of three or four Greek words-denoting a fluid ! that can render the human