It should however be mentioned, that Miss Glossop never heard, or even suspected, that Colonel Crop was commissioned with any more humiliating proposals. And though there might be something suspicious, and not altogether accurate, in this proxy courtship, yet the young lady pardoned it all under the consideration that Lord Spoonbill was peculiarly situated. Very pleasing were the anticipations of Miss Glossop in looking forward to the possession of a mansion so splendid as Smatterton Castle. Very readily did Miss Glossop dismiss from her mind all thoughts of tenderness for the poor lieutenant, and very readily did she renounce all design on the heart of Robert Darnley, leaving that in the undisturbed possession of Miss Primrose. Colonel Crop had no sooner fulfilled his commission, than he immediately betook himself to the gratifying employment of communicating his success to Lord Spoonbill, in the full expectation of receiving his lordship’s most hearty thanks for the pains that he had taken, and the dexterity with which he had conducted the negociation. It was too great a task for the gallant colonel to write a whole letter on the very evening of his return from Neverden Hall to Smatterton Castle; he therefore began the letter in the evening, resolving to finish it on the morning of the following day. Just as the gallant officer had concluded the writing of his despatches, and was preparing to fold and seal his important communication, the successor of the crafty Nick Muggins brought letters to Smatterton Castle. One of these letters concerned Colonel Crop and the business of which he had just been writing. The colonel, seeing the hand-writing of his respected patron and employer, had sense and sagacity enough to open and read that letter before he sealed and sent off his own. It is astonishing to observe what wonderful sagacity some people possess, who are by no means regarded by the rest of the world as conjurors. Colonel Crop, to an ordinary observer, would have appeared a very stupid kind of man, and by no means addicted to the exercise of the reasoning powers. But notwithstanding this his habitual and constitutional obtuseness, he had the wisdom to reason so far as to conclude that he might as well read Lord Spoonbill’s letter to him before he sent off his letter to Lord Spoonbill. The letter, which Colonel Crop now opened, was as follows: “DEAR CROP,