The History of Samuel Titmarsh, and The Great Hoggarty Diamond

e told, I was not sorry to let Hoskins have the start of me, and tell the chaps what had taken

and, when he came round to look over my day-book, said I wrote a capital hand (and indeed I believe I do, without any sort of flattery), and invited me for dinner next Sunday, in Myddelton Square. "You won't have," said he, "

come and brin

was going to help Gus before me; when his wife, who was seated at the head of the table, looking very big and fierce in red crape and a turban, shouted out, "Antony!" and poor R. dropped the plate, and blushed as red as anything. How Mrs. R. did talk to me about the West End to be sure! She had a "Peerage," as you may be certain, and knew everything about the Drum family in a manne

had been passing the port-wine round pretty freely, "I hope you looked

ters downstairs?" cries the lady, quite a

I've emptied

oundhand heaved her very large chest, and gave me a third look that was so severe, that I declare to goodness it made me look quite foolish. As to Gus, she never so much as spoke to him all the evening; but he consoled himself with a great lot of muffins, and

aning over the balcony, and ogling the girls coming home from church. "You and me with our coa

and, quite eagerly;

ist. "Mr. Roundhand has never allowed it since our marriage-never; but in the year 'fourteen it was considered a proper compliment, you know, to pay the sovereigns. So twenty-nine young ladies, of the best families in the City of London, I assure you, Mr. Titmarsh-there was the Lord Mayor's own daughters; Alderman Dobbin

had a splendid partner!" and blu

oney and compliments; when you win us, it's all coldness and indifference. Look at Roundhand, the great baby, trying to beat down a butterfly with his yellow bandanna! Can a man like that comprehend me? ca

oak, as the bells were chiming and the air full of the sweet smell of the hay, and the river shining in the sun, all crimson, purple, gold, and silver. There was my dear Mary a hundred and

g my hand mechanically upon my chest, I tore my fingers with the point of my new diamond-pin. Mr. Pol

er-time. How rich you must be to wear such splendid things! and how can you remain i

broke my head against the sash, too, as I went out to the gents in the open air. "Gus," says I, "I feel very unwell: I wish you'd come home

re is a lobster coming up,-a trifling refr

--- the lobster!" as Roundhand went

West End on Thursday, asked to dine, ma'am, with the tip-top nobs. Chaps don't

rubbers," said Roundhan

y fierce and angry. "Not a card shall be touched here. A

rstand. We were not talk

h eve," said Mrs. Roundhand; and out she flounced from

h frightened,-"do stay. She won't come back w

y; and read out one of Blair's sermons before we went to bed. As I turned over in bed, I could not help th