The said hand was raised doubtingly, but it was seized and warmly grasped. "Now then," said the Doctor, "I promised your son to bring you up to ask my child to be your son's wife." "Is this some dream?" said Lord Pinemount, in a subdued voice. "No, sir--the broad sunlight of fact. There, my dear cousin, Lady Pinemount, is eager to take my darling in her arms, and you are as eager to grasp the hand of as true and brave a young fellow as ever stepped. Will you order the carriage, Lady Pinemount?" "But--but," faltered Lord Pinemount, "do I understand that you will not ask me to give up the title--the estate?" "Only when the great end comes, and your son reigns in your stead--and ours, sir. God bless him! for I love him as if he was my son. Lady Pinemount--cousin, sister--you will come on at once?" She could not speak, but pressed the hand he gave her and held it to her lips. "But what magic is this?" whispered Denis two hours later, when he had felt the warm grasp of his father's hand, and seen him kiss and bless Veronica, who was now seated on a couch with Lady Pinemount's arm round her waist "Doctor Salado's magic, my dear boy. Some day I will give you the recipe. There--never mind now. You will represent the family tree, and its finest limb is not sawn off." VOLUME TWO, CHAPTER ONE. THE GILDED PILL--A HOMELY COMEDY. DOVE AND DAWS. "Richard Shingle, Shoemaker. Repairs neatly executed." This legend was written in yellow letters, shaded with blue, upon an oval red board. Red, blue, and yellow form a pleasing combination to some eyes; but when the yellow is drab, the blue dirty, and the scarlet of a brick-dusty tint, the harmony is not pleasing. Moreover, the literary artist could not be complimented upon his skill in writing in pigment with a camel-hair brush; for, not content to be staid and steadfast in Roman characters, he had indulged in wild flourishes, which gave the signboard the appearance of a battle-field, upon which certain ordinary letters were staggering about, while three or four tyrannical capitals were catching them with lassoes, which twined wildly, round their heads and legs. For instance, the first "d" was in difficulties, the "g" was pulled out of place, the "h" and "o" tied tightly together, while just below, the "repairs" seemed to be neatly executed indeed, for the "r" had a yellow rope round its neck, having been hung by "Richard," beneath which word it was suspended, with the rest of the letters kicking frantically because that initial was at its last gasp.