The first toast (as the reader may guess) was quaffed to the health of the new landowner of Kherson; the second to the prosperity of his peasants and their safe transferment; and the third to the beauty of his future wife--a compliment which brought to our hero's lips a flickering smile.

Lastly, he received from the company a pressing, as well as an unanimous, invitation to extend his stay in town for at least another fortnight, and, in the meanwhile, to allow a wife to be found for him.
"Quite so," agreed the President.

"Fight us tooth and nail though you may, we intend to have you married.

You have happened upon us by chance, and you shall have no reason to repent of it.

We are in earnest on this subject." "But why should I fight you tooth and nail ?" said Chichikov, smiling.
"Marriage would not come amiss to me, were I but provided with a betrothed." "Then a betrothed you shall have.