Patty's Confidences.

and salt , " I have eA er retained a warm interest in the old profession , than which , I make bold to add , yon Avon't find a finer anywhere . When I reached Lavender Villa , and Avas ushered in by a smart-looking

waiting maid , I found Patty and Mrs . Patchett ( excuse me putting the daughter before the mamma ) , in their pretty drawing-room , looking out on the wellkept croquet laivn , where Pippy and Poppy PatchetttAVO excessivellivel

, y y aud good-looking young damsels too Avere indul ging in that exciting game . And though I was receh ^ ed both by mother and daughter with their usual animation and friendlinessit seemed

, to me that there Avas a little reserve , for some reason or other—that someAAdiat of a"holding-back"had come over those two excellent females .

The slightest " nuance" of embarrassment Avas also perceptible in their manner ; at least , so I thought . "What can it be I Avonder ? Never mind , " I said to myself , " I'll find it out before I leave the house . "

But after a little exchange of small talk , of general and local news , there Avas a pause in the conversation , not indeed , the " awful paws" of the little dinner-party , but a brief pause in Avhich Patty looked at Mrs . Patchett , and Mrs . Patchett looked at Patty , and then they both looked at me .

I am not usually dull or stupid , and as a rule , our conversation at Lavender Villa was always very animated , but here Ave Avere apparently with nothing to say . What could it all mean ?

At last Mrs . Patchett said , in a someivhat hesitating way to me , " You have heard , Mr . Tomlinson , of course , of Patty ' s engagement . " Of course I had heard nothing about it Avhateveras that Avary old ladknew

, y very Avell , or perhaps I should not have been quite so cheerful . " Patty ' s eiigagement / 'Ireplied , "no ; I have not heard of it , indeed , Mrs . Patchett . That is a bit of neAvs "

"Why , Patty , " I added , "how many hearts you will break , like Miss Myrtle , by such a desperate announcement . " "Oh , Mr . Tomlinson ; ' said Patty , blushing , and looking quite « harming , Avith that gentle feminine air of

deprecation Avhich those gipsies know ahvays becomes them so Avell , " I Avanted to Avrite to you to let you know at once , but mamma wished to tell you herself in person . " " We look upon you , Mr . Tomlinson , " Patty continued , " as one of the family , one of our most cherished friends . "

And here Patty looked up at me confidingly and beseechingly . So I professed myself delighted , and congratulated the mamma , and felicitated the daughter . " And who is it , Patty , " I said , " AVIIO

is the fortunate man ? Well , he is a very fortunate man , Avhoever he may be , in my opinion . Dear me . ' I ' ve put it off until too late , " I said , sentimentally to Patty , Avho Avas full of amiability and sympathy .

"Ah , " joined in Mrs . Patchett , who IIOAV took up the running , "Ah , Mr . Tomlinson , " Avith that satisfied air mothers ahvays assume Avhen they announce their daughter ' s marriage to their friends , male or female , "Ah , Mr . Tomlinson , a most excellent young man . "

I bowed delightedly . " Highly educated , of great moral worth . We should not have given our daughter to one of the fast young men of the day , for Mr . Patchett and I are most particular on that headand I have

, brought up Patty as well as her sisters , most strictly and carefully . You have heard no doubt , " added Mrs . Patchett , complacently , " of the Plumptons , of Plumpton Manor ?"

She pronounced the Avords emphatically , " A very old Kentish family , as old as William the Conqueror ; indeed , Burke in his History of the Landed Gentry , says they were Saxon Thanes . "