"She's all my fancy painted her, sir, that's what she
is," said Mr. Swiveller, taking a long pull at "the rosy"
and looking gravely at his friend. "She is lovely, she's
divine. You know her."

"I remember," said his companion carelessly. "What
of her?"

"Why, sir," returned Dick, "between Miss Sophia
Wackles and the humble individual who has now the honour
to address you, warm and tender sentiments have been
engendered, sentiments of the most honourable and in-
spiring kind. The Goddess Diana, sir, that calls aloud for
the chace, is not more particular in her behaviour than
Sophia Wackles; I can tell you that."

"Am I to believe there's anything real in what you
say?" demanded his friend; "you don't mean to say that
any love-making has been going on?"

"Love-making, yes. Promising, no," said Dick.

"There can be no action for breach, that's one comfort.
I've never committed myself in writing, Fred".

"And what's in the letter, pray?"

"A reminder, Fred, for to-night--a small party of
twenty, making two hundred light fantastic toes in all,
supposing every lady and gentleman to have the proper
complement. I must go, if it's only to begin breaking off
the affair--I'll do it, don't you be afraid. I should like
to know whether she left this herself. If she did, uncon-
scious of any bar to her happiness, it's affecting, Fred."

To solve this question, Mr. Swiveller summoned the
handmaid and ascertained that Miss Sophy Wackles had
indeed left the letter with her own hands; and that she had
come accompanied, for decorum's sake no doubt, by a
younger Miss Wackles; and that an learning that Mr.
Swiveller was at home and being requested to walk up
stairs, she was extremely shocked and professed that she
would rather die. Mr. Swiveller heard this account with
a degree of admiration not altogether consistent with the
project in which he had just concurred, but his friend
attached very little importance to his behaviour in this
respect, probably because he knew that he had influence
sufficient to control Richard Swiveller's proceedings in this
or any other matter, whenever he deemed it necessary, for
the advancement of his own purpose, to exert it.

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