"'You are always right, sir, no doubt,' observed Pigeon, 'but you were about to state the particular hindrance to your marriage with'---- "'To be sure, Lotty--as I was going to observe, was a nice little sugar-plum, a very nice little sugar-plum--as you will doubtless allow.' "It was with much difficulty that Pigeon possessed himself of sufficient coolness to admit the familiar truth of the simile; he however admitted the wife of his bosom to be a nice little sugar-plum. "'Very nice indeed, but I saw it--I felt convinced of it, and the truth went like twenty daggers to my soul--but I discovered--' "'Good heavens,' exclaimed Pigeon, 'discovered what?' "'That her complexion,' replied Tomata, 'beautiful as it was would not stand Trincomalee.' "'And was that your sole objection to the match?' inquired Pigeon solemnly. "'I give you my honour as a gentleman that I had no other motive for breaking off the marriage. Sir, I should have despised myself, if I had; for, as I observed, we were both gone--very far gone indeed.' "'No doubt, sir,' answered Pigeon, burning to avow himself. 'But as a friend of Mr. Pigeon, allow me to assure you that the lady was not found too far gone to admit of a perfect recovery.' "'I'm glad of it; hope it is so. By the way what sort of a fellow is Pigeon? Had I been in London--I only came up yesterday--I should have looked into the match before it took place. Lotty could expect no less of me. What kind of an animal is this Pigeon?' "'Kind of an animal, sir?' stammered Pigeon. 'Why, sir, he----' "'Ha! that will do,' said the abrupt Tomata, 'as you're his friend I'll not press you on that point. Poor Lotty--sacrificed I see!'" After more amusing dialogue he throws his card on the table and says he shall call, adding, "'If Pigeon makes my Lotty a good husband, I'll take him by the hand; if, however, I find him no gentleman--find that he shall use the girl of my heart with harshness, or even with the least unkindness--' "'Well, sir!'--Pigeon thrusting his hands into his pockets swaggered to Tomata--'what will you do then, sir?' "'Then, sir. I shall again think the happiness of the lady placed in my hands and thrash him--thrash him severely.'" CHAPTER XVII. Thackeray--His Acerbity--The Baronet--The Parson--Medical Ladies--Glorvina--"A Serious Paradise."