It would have been very much to Markham's comfort, could he but have known how heroically Miss Henderson transferred Mr. Tippetson to Clara; and how calmly her heart made the transition of its affections from Mr. Tippetson to himself. Then, indeed, he could conscientiously have slipped away by the means of a short absence, and a little cessation of attention, knowing or strongly presuming, that his place would be very soon supplied. But all this he did not know, and all this he did not suspect, and all this he could hardly have believed, had any one told him. In all his multifarious readings about precedents and conveyancing, he had not met with a precedent for such conveyancing as this. He, poor youth, in the simplicity of his soul, thought that Miss Henderson must either become Mrs. Markham, or die of a broken heart; and he would have been very sorry for either of these calamities. The only consolation that he could find under present circumstances was, that perhaps by some unexpected turn of affairs, an opportunity might be afforded him by which he might be extricated from his present difficulties. Thus we remember to have seen some twenty years ago, a comedy in which was introduced a character called Sir Abel Handy, and this Sir Abel Handy was a very ingenious man in his own estimation, full of contrivances, which might rival the philosophers of Laputa; but these contrivances in general had some unlucky flaw or defect, which rendered them altogether useless. Thus, when in the course of the piece, news is brought that a house is on fire, one of the characters asks Sir Abel Handy, where is his machine or contrivance for putting out fire at a moment's notice. Unfortunately this machine is by some untoward accident not in order, or not forthcoming; and Sir Abel Handy being a wise man, and like all other wise men not liking to look foolish, says, "Oh, never mind, I have hit upon a plan to put the fire out."--"What is that?"--"Why perhaps it may go out of itself." We like this plan very much, and so did Markham, for it was the only hope he had. CHAPTER XVII. "Makes his approach in modesty's disguise, To win applause; and takes it by surprise." YOUNG.