On the following Friday, when the Commodore and Lavinia were sitting in the Museum Green-Room, Barnum said, “Lavinia, would you like to go up to Bridgeport with me to-morrow and stay until Monday?” “Thank you,” she said, “it will be a great relief to get into the country for a couple of days.” “Mr. Barnum,” said the Commodore, “_I_ should like to go up to Bridgeport to-morrow.” “What for?” asked Barnum innocently. “I want to see my ponies; I haven’t seen them for several months.” Barnum was afraid that he could not spare both Lavinia and the Commodore from the Museum, he said. But the Commodore insisted that he could perform at half-past seven Saturday night and catch the eight o’clock train for Bridgeport. Barnum did not wish to lose the Commodore’s friendship, and Lavinia did not seem to object to his company at the week-end party. Barnum confessed that he knew nothing of Lavinia’s opinion of the rivals. At the time he believed that she wished the presence of the Commodore to prevent a declaration by the General, but she confided nothing to him. General Tom Thumb waited with his best coach at the Bridgeport railroad station on Saturday morning. The coachman was dressed up for the occasion with a broad velvet ribbon and a new silver buckle on his hat. The General drove Barnum and Lavinia to Barnum’s house, and then he took Lavinia for a drive. Stopping with her for a few minutes at his own house, he showed her the rooms which his father had ordered to be constructed midget size, and also showed her the gorgeous diminutive furniture which filled those rooms. Then he drove with her to East Bridgeport and pointed out his real estate. At luncheon he was delighted when Lavinia, in answer to Barnum’s question about her drive, said: “It was very pleasant; it seems as if you and Tom Thumb own about all of Bridgeport.” The General returned to Barnum’s house for dinner, and he brought his mother along. She did not yet know that her son intended matrimony, but she was delighted with Lavinia Warren. Taking Barnum aside, the General asked for an invitation to spend the night at “Lindencroft,” Barnum’s new Bridgeport residence. “I intend,” he explained, “to ask her to marry me before the Commodore arrives.” After dinner Lavinia and General Tom Thumb played backgammon. At nine o’clock Barnum yawned ostentatiously and said he would like to retire, but that some one must wait up for the Commodore. General Tom Thumb volunteered, “if Miss Warren will remain also.” Lavinia explained that she was used to late hours, and the two dwarfs waited for the third. The Barnum family retired, excepting two young girls, who had been told of the situation, and who were interested in its dénouement. They took up positions on the hall stairway, where they could watch and listen in darkness. It is to their curiosity that we are indebted, via Barnum, for the detailed report of what happened that evening.