Mr.Eustace is a very excellent young man, and, if I may be allowed to say so, a very good-looking young man; but what, I would ask this assembled company, has Mr.Meeson done above the rest of men to justify his supreme good fortune?
Why should this young gentleman be picked out from the multitude of young gentlemen to inherit two millions of money, and to marry the most charming--yes, the most charming, the most talented, and the bravest young lady that I have ever met--a young lady who not only carries twenty fortunes on her face, but another fortune in her brain, and his fortune on her neck--and such a fortune, too! Sir"-- and he bowed towards Eustace-- "'Lovely Thais sits beside thee, Take the goods the gods provide thee.' "I salute you, as all men must salute one so supremely favoured.

Humbly, I salute you; humbly I pray that you may continually deserve the almost unparalleled good that it has pleased Providence to bestow upon you." And then Eustace rose and made his speech, and a very good speech it was, considering the trying circumstances under which it was made.

He told them how he had fallen in love with Augusta's sweet face the very first time that he had set eyes upon it in the office of his uncle at Birmingham.

He told them what he had felt when, after getting some work in London, he had returned to Birmingham to find his lady-love flown, and of what he had endured when he heard that she was among the drowned on board the Kangaroo.

Then he came to the happy day of the return, and to that still happier day when he discovered that he had not loved her in vain, finally ending thus-- "Dr.Probate has said that I am a supremely fortunate man, and I admit the truth of his remark.