Beatrice.

Cayley with the least possible delay , and that is why I have summoned Clinker here , and that is precisely what will be the end which the ' little gentleman in black' hopes to accomplish . " " I have already spoken to our own superintendant , and he is quite read y to help ns , if only he sees an opening . But as you , my most learned Medico , most truly observe—the affair is a very difficult oneas we say in Germanyfull

, , of ' schwierigkeit . '" " By the way , " he said , " don ' t you think we had better see Clinker ? " To this proposal there was an unanimous assent , and Mr . Clinker was properly introduced and warmly received by what Mr . Weller would call the " assembled selections . " He modestly said he should "not object" to a glass of B . and S ., and being provided with a pipefor—as Brummer remarked

, , " he has , like myself , a weakness for that excellent institution to which so much of the comfort of society may fairly be attributed , "—he gave his opinion in the following lucid sentences . " It is a very bad case , gentlemen , a very bad case indeed . You have to deal with as big a ( well , never mind , ) as lives on the earth , and as for the womangentlemenshe is about the most dangerous partI know of . I

, , y don't think so much of Kirschenwasser . His habits render him useless , and he is such an ass that he never does anything right , so that he need not be feared at all . Of course their game is clear , and the onl y thing for us to do is to checkmate them at once . To tolerate their impertinence , or to wink at their wickedness , is the height of folly and recklessness , as they will only add villany to villany , and insolence to insolence . "

"In fact , " Twamley put in , "vires acquirunt enudo , " but as he was requested unanimously to " shut up , " Clinker went on , "I understand from Mr . Brummer he has something to say to these parties , and if the same view is entertained by certain individuals whom Mr . Brummer has asked to pay us a visit from London , I think we shall soon see them say farewell—yes , a ' long farewell '—to Cayley . But as I

have a good deal to do , you'll excuse me , gentlemen , if I wish you all good morning , " and , gravely bowing , Mr . Clinker withdrew . So that little "caucus " broke up , only to meet in the afternoon under still more excited circumstances , for in the meantime Patey had amused himself by carrying the war into the enemy ' s quarters , and had a bit of a " scrimmage " with Mr . Kirchenwasser , which did not improve that worthy individual ' s personal appearance , or tend to his personal comfort , but which that promising young man , with much worldly wisdom , wished not to have talked about more than was necessary .

We had all gone in to one of Mrs . Mortimer ' s afternoon teas , and found that every one was in an undoubted state of excitement . Mr . Miller looked very sedate and not comfortable , I thought , though he took a deal of snuff , Mrs . Mortimer seemed bothered , while Beatrice , ancl Moriey , and Twamley , and Miss Jane Moriey , ancl Mr . Lacy , and Miss Merewether , and Mr . Carruthers , ancl Fraulein Lisette , all were in the highest spirits , the only persons rather

puzzled or pondering being Brummer ancl myself , the doctor ancl his wife . Indeed , as Mr . Miller was a good patient of the doctor ' s , it was quite clear that for some reason or other that very worthy individual did not approve of Mr . Morley ' s proceedings , ancl his good wife took a very lachrymose view of things in general and marriage in particular , especiall y in the case of Moriey and Beatrice .

" Don ' t you think , Mr . Tomlinson , " she said to me , as we were all looking on at the croquet , " that impecunious marriage is a bad thing ? " "Yes , " I said , "my clear madam , but still I can tell you a worse thing by a long way , —loveless marriage . " "Ah , " she said , "there is so much sentiment in the idea of matrimony . Young people fancy themselves in love , and they marry , and they have nothing to live on , and their friends have to keep them . There would be much less