"Did you tell the woman just what I ordered you to say ?" "I did not omit a single word." "Tell me what you said, then." "For five days," began the lad solemnly, "your Toto has been your Caroline's shadow.

We have played cards until all sorts of hours, and I took care that she should always win.

I confided to her that I had a jolly old uncle,--a man not without means, a widower, and crazy to be married again,--who had seen her and had fallen in love with her." "Good! my lad, good! and what did she say ?" "Why, she grinned like half a dozen cats; only she is a bit artful, and I saw at once that she thought I was after her cards, but the mention of my uncle's property soon chucked her off that idea." "Did you give my name ?" "Yes, at the end, I did.

I knew that she had seen you, and so I kept it back as long as I could; but as soon as I mentioned it she looked rather confused, and cried out: 'I know him quite well.' So you see, sir, all you have now is to settle a day for the marriage.

Come on; she expects you." Toto was right.