The General sent a good friend to Lavinia’s mother, with a letter, and the friend also urged the suit personally. On the following Wednesday the General went to New York, where he waited in Lavinia’s company for her mother’s answer. Both of them entered Barnum’s private office Wednesday afternoon, and Tom Thumb said: “Mr. Barnum, I want somebody to tell the Commodore that Lavinia and I are engaged, for I’m afraid there will be a row when he hears about it.” “Do it yourself, General,” was Barnum’s suggestion. “Oh, I wouldn’t dare do it,” said Tom Thumb. “He might knock me down!” “I will do it myself,” Lavinia decided. The General retired, and Barnum sent for Commodore Nutt. When the Commodore entered, Barnum said: “Commodore, do you know what this little witch has been doing?” The Commodore had no idea. “Well, she has been cutting up one of the greatest pranks you ever heard of. She almost deserves to be shut up for daring to do it. Can’t you guess what she has done?” He looked at Barnum in silence for a moment, and then in a low, trembling voice, he said, looking full at Lavinia, “Engaged?” “Yes,” said Barnum, “actually engaged to be married to General Tom Thumb. Did you ever hear of such a thing?” “Is it so, Lavinia?” the Commodore asked earnestly. “Yes, it is really so,” said Lavinia. The Commodore turned weak and pale. He choked, turned on his tiny heel, and when he got to the door, he just managed to say in a broken voice, “I hope you may be happy.” “That’s pretty hard,” Barnum said to Lavinia. “I am very sorry,” said Lavinia, “but I could not help it. That diamond and emerald ring you asked me to give him caused all the trouble.” Lavinia Warren was placing too much responsibility on a small ring. Half an hour after Barnum told him the news, Commodore Nutt returned to the private office. “Mr. Barnum,” he asked, “do you think it would be right for Miss Warren to marry Charlie Stratton if her mother should object?” “No, indeed,” said Barnum. “Well, she says she will marry him anyway; that she gives her mother the chance to consent, but if she objects, she will have her way and marry him.” Barnum reassured the Commodore. He would not permit such disobedience, he said, and if Mrs. Warren objected to the match, Barnum intended to put an end to it by insisting on the terms of the contract with Lavinia and taking her to Europe immediately. The Commodore was joyful. “Between you and me, Mr. Barnum,” he said, “I don’t believe she will consent.” But the Commodore was wrong. Mrs. Warren consented, but only after she was convinced that the match was not prompted by Barnum for the purpose of making money. When the Commodore’s last hope was destroyed, Barnum, endeavoring to comfort him, said, “Never mind, Commodore, Minnie Warren is a better match for you anyhow. She is two years younger than you, and Lavinia is older.” “Thank you, sir, but I would not marry the best woman living. I don’t believe in women,” was the Commodore’s reply.