I believe Mr.S.Mowbray regulated his family settlements very much upon the idea that his heir was to intermarry with our house." "True, true, Mr.Mowbray," answered Touchwood; "and certainly it is not your business to lay the axe to the root of the genealogical tree, that is like to bear golden apples for you--Ha!" "Well, well, sir--proceed--proceed," answered Mowbray.
"You may also have heard that this old gentleman had a son, who would willingly have cut up the said family-tree into fagots; who thought Scrogie sounded as well as Mowbray, and had no fancy for an imaginary gentility, which was to be attained by the change of one's natural name, and the disowning, as it were, of one's actual relations." "I think I have heard from Lord Etherington," answered Mowbray, "to whose communications I owe most of my knowledge about these Scrogie people, that old Mr.Scrogie Mowbray was unfortunate in a son, who thwarted his father on every occasion,--would embrace no opportunity which fortunate chances held out, of raising and distinguishing the family,--had imbibed low tastes, wandering habits, and singular objects of pursuit,--on account of which his father disinherited him." "It is very true, Mr.Mowbray," proceeded Touchwood, "that this person did happen to fall under his father's displeasure, because he scorned forms and flummery,--loved better to make money as an honest merchant, than to throw it away as an idle gentleman,--never called a coach when walking on foot would serve the turn,--and liked the Royal Exchange better than St.James's Park.

In short, his father disinherited him, because he had the qualities for doubling the estate, rather than those for squandering it." "All this may be quite correct, Mr.Touchwood," replied Mowbray; "but pray, what has this Mr.Scrogie, junior, to do with you or me ?" "Do with you or me!" said Touchwood, as if surprised at the question; "he has a great deal to do with me at least, since I am the very man myself." "The devil you are!" said Mowbray, opening wide his eyes in turn; "Why, Mr.A--a--your name is Touchwood--P.

Touchwood--Paul, I suppose, or Peter--I read it so in the subscription book at the Well." "Peregrine, sir, Peregrine--my mother would have me so christened, because Peregrine Pickle came out during her confinement; and my poor foolish father acquiesced, because he thought it genteel, and derived from the Willoughbies.

I don't like it, and I always write P.short, and you might have remarked an S.also before the surname--I use at present P.S.Touchwood.

I had an old acquaintance in the city, who loved his jest--He always called me Postscript Touchwood." "Then, sir," said Mowbray, "if you are really Mr.Scrogie, _tout court_, I must suppose the name of Touchwood is assumed ?" "What the devil!" replied Mr.P.S.Touchwood, "do you suppose there is no name in the English nation will couple up legitimately with my paternal name of Scrogie, except your own, Mr.Mowbray ?--I assure you I got the name of Touchwood, and a pretty spell of money along with it, from an old godfather, who admired my spirit in sticking by commerce." "Well, sir, every one has his taste--Many would have thought it better to enjoy a hereditary estate, by keeping your father's name of Mowbray, than to have gained another by assuming a stranger's name of Touchwood." "Who told you Mr.Touchwood was a stranger to me ?" said the traveller; "for aught I know, he had a better title to the duties of a son from me, than the poor old man who made such a fool of himself, by trying to turn gentleman in his old age.