There is nobody I esteem more than you, Richard, so you need not look so." "Thank you, dearest Barbara." "Yes, and if you were to be such a goose as to write me another letter proposing absurdities to me--" "Would the answer be different ?" "Very different." "Oh, Barbara, would you accept ?" "Why, of course not; but I would refuse civilly!" "Ah!" "There, don't sigh; I hate a sighing man.

I'll tell you something that I know will make you laugh." She then smiled saucily in his face, and said, "Do you remember Mr .-- -- ?" _L'effronte'e!_ this was the earnest man.

But Ipsden was a match for her this time.

"I think I do," said he; "a gentleman who wants to make John Bull little again into John Calf; but it won't do." Her ladyship laughed.

"Why did you not tell us that on Inch Coombe ?" "Because I had not read _The Catspaw_ then." _"The Catspaw ?_ Ah! I thought it could not be you.