The little General was excited, but determined. Barnum was amused, and, indulging his inordinate love of a pun,--and that pun in particular, since he had already used it once on Jenny Lind,--he said, “Lavinia is already engaged, General.” “To whom? Commodore Nutt?” the General asked with suspicion and jealousy in his voice. “No,” said Barnum, “to me.” The General was immensely relieved, and he insisted that Barnum’s contract must not interfere with his happiness. “I hope you will favor my suit with her?” he asked. “Well, General,” Barnum said, “I will not oppose you in your suit, but you must do your own courting. But I tell you, Commodore Nutt will be jealous of you, and, more than that, Miss Warren is nobody’s fool. You will have to be careful, if you want to succeed.” The General was confident and active. He abandoned his yacht and neglected his ponies. Much of his time was now spent at his sister’s house in New York City, and every day he visited the Museum for pleasure. Commodore Nutt grew jealous, and he resented the General’s frequent intrusions. When the rivals were left alone in the Museum dressing-rooms one day, the Commodore laid the General flat on his back, for the Commodore was wiry and alert, while the General, who was eight years older, was portly and slow. Although physically the General was at a disadvantage, in his courtship he had the advantages of a man of wealth and leisure over at person who must work every day for his living. While Commodore Nutt was entertaining the Museum patrons, General Tom Thumb was entertaining Lavinia Warren. Sundays and evenings, when Lavinia was at leisure and the Commodore was not present, the General chatted shyly with her, and by his constant presence he indubitably established in her mind the reason for it. Finally, satisfied that he had made discreet and sufficient progress, General Tom Thumb returned to his neglected family in Bridgeport. But before he left New York he begged Barnum to invite Lavinia Warren to the Barnum house in Bridgeport for the week-end. He wanted his mother to meet Lavinia.