"Ah! I don't know--you've used me most uncommon bad, 'pon my soul!--far worse than they have--you've nearly broke my heart, sir! You have!" "Well, my womankind at home are right, after all! They told me all along I was going the wrong way to work, when I said how I tried to keep your pride down, and prevent you from having your head turned by knowing your good looks! Over and over again, my little girl has said, with tears in her dear eyes, 'you'll break his spirit, dear papa--if he _is_ handsome, wasn't it God that made him so?'" The little frostwork which Titmouse had thrown around his heart, began to melt like snow under sunbeams. "Ah, Mr. Titmouse, Mr. Titmouse! the women are always right, and _we're_ always wrong," continued Tag-rag, earnestly, perceiving his advantage. "Upon my soul I could kick myself for my stupidity, and cruelty too!" "Ah, I should think so! No one knows what I've suffered! And now," added Titmouse, suddenly, "that I'm--I suppose you've heard it all, sir?--what's in the wind--and all that?" "Yes, sir--Mr. Gammon (that most respectable gentleman) and I have had a long talk yesterday about you, in which he did certainly tell me everything--nothing like confidence, Mr. Titmouse, when gentleman meets gentleman, you know! Oh, Lord! the news is really delightful! delightful!" "_Isn't_ it, sir?" eagerly interrupted Titmouse, his eyes glistening with sudden rapture. "Ah! ten thous--I _must_ shake hands with you, my dear Mr. Titmouse;" quoth Tag-rag, with affectionate excitement--and, for the first time in their lives, their hands touched, Tag-rag squeezing that of Titmouse with energetic cordiality; while he added, with a little emotion in his tone--"Thomas Tag-rag may be a plain-spoken and wrong-headed man, Mr. Titmouse--but he's a warm heart, I assure you!" "And did Mr. Gammon tell you _all_, sir?" eagerly interrupted Titmouse. "Everything--everything; quite confidential, I assure you, for he saw the interest I felt in you!" "And did he say about my--hem!--eh? my stopping a few weeks longer with you?" inquired Titmouse, chagrin overspreading his features. "I think he did, indeed, Mr. Titmouse! He's quite bent on it, sir! And so would any true friend of yours be--because you see!"--here he dropped his voice, and looked very mysteriously at Titmouse--"in short I quite agree with Mr. Gammon!" "Do you indeed, sir?" exclaimed Titmouse, with rather an uneasy look. "I do, i' faith! Why, they'd give thousands and thousands to get you out of the way--and what's _money_ to _them_? But they must look very sharp that get at you in the premises of Thomas Tag-rag, I warrant 'em!--Talking of that, ah, ha!--it _will_ be a funny thing to see you, Mr. Titmouse--Squire Titmouse--ah, ha, ha!" "You won't hardly expect me to go out with _goods_, I suppose, sir?" inquired Titmouse, somewhat anxiously.