MR. STRYVER STARTLED going to make an offer of myself in marriage to your agreeable little friend, Miss Manette, Mr. Lorry." "Oh dear me !" cried Mr. Lorry, rubbing his chin, and looking at his visitor dubiously. 66 "Oh dear me, sir?" repeated Stryver, drawing back. "Oh dear you, sir? What may your meaning be, Mr. Lorry?" My meaning," answered the man of business, “is, of course, friendly and appreciative, and that it does does you the greatest credit, and-in short, my meaning is everything you could desire. But really, you know, Mr. StryverMr. Lorry paused, and shook his head at him in the oddest manner, as if he were compelled against his will to add, internally, " you know there really is so much too much of you!" "Well!" said Stryver, slapping the desk with his contentious. hand, opening his eyes wider, and taking a long breath, "if I understand you, Mr. Lorry, I'll be hanged!" Mr. Lorry adjusted his little wig at both ears as a means towards that end, and bit the feather of a pen. "D—n it all, sir!" said Stryver, staring at him, “am I not eligible?" "Oh dear yes! Yes. Oh, yes, you're eligible!" said Mr. Lorry. "If you say eligible, you are eligible." "Am I not prosperous?" asked Stryver. "Oh! if you come to prosperous, you are prosperous," said Mr. Lorry. "And advancing?" "If you come to advancing, you know," said Mr. Lorry, delighted to be able to make another admission, "nobody can doubt that." 'Then what on earth is your meaning, Mr. Lorry?" demanded Stryver, perceptibly crestfallen. "Well! I- Were you going there now?" asked Mr. Lorry. Straight!" said Stryver, with a plump of his fist on the desk. 66 Then I think I wouldn't, if I was you." Why?" said Stryver. "Now, I'll put you in a corner,' forensically shaking a forefinger at him. "You are a man of 11] 153 X |