"Well, Mr. Titmouse"--commenced the earl, blandly, stepping at once, with graceful boldness, out of the mist, confusion, and perplexity which prevailed among his Lordship's ideas, few as they were--"_what are you thinking about_?--For you _seem_ to be thinking!" and a courteous little laugh accompanied the last words. "'Pon--'pon my life--I--I--_beg_ your Lordship's pardon--but it's--monstrous odd your Lordship should have known it"--stammered Titmouse; and his face suddenly grew of a scarlet color. "Sir," replied the earl, with greater skill than he had ever evinced in his whole life before--(such is the effect of any one's being intensely _in earnest_)--"it is not at all odd, when it happens that--the probability is--that--we are, perhaps--mind, sir, I mean possibly--thinking _about the same thing_!" Titmouse grew more and more confused, gazing in silence, with a strange simpering stare, at his noble companion, who, with his hands joined behind him, was walking slowly along with Titmouse. "Sir," continued the earl, in a low tone--breaking a very awkward pause--"it gives me sincere satisfaction to assure you, that I can fully appreciate the delicate embarrassment which I perceive you are now"---- "My Lord--your Lordship's most _uncommon_ polite"--quoth Titmouse, suddenly taking off his hat, and bowing very low. The earl moved his hat also, and slightly bowed, with a proudly gratified air; and again occurred a pause, which was broken by Titmouse. "Then your Lordship thinks--a--a--that--_it will do_?" he inquired very sheepishly, but anxiously. "Sir, I have the honor to assure you, that as far as I am concerned, I see no obst"---- "Yes--but excuse me, my Lord--your Lordship sees--I mean--my Lord, your Lordship sees----doesn't your Lordship?" "Sir, I think--nay, I believe I _do_"--interrupted the earl, wishing to relieve the evident embarrassment of his companion--"but--I see--nothing that should--alarm you." [How interesting to watch the mysterious process by which these two powerful minds were gradually approximating towards understanding each other! 'Twas a sort of _equation_ with an unknown quantity, in due course of elimination!] "Doesn't your Lordship, indeed?" inquired Titmouse, rather briskly. "Sir, it was a saying of one of the great--I mean, sir, it is--you must often have heard, sir--in short, _nothing venture, nothing have_!" "I'd venture a precious deal, my Lord, if I only thought I could get what _I'm_ after!" "Sir?" exclaimed the earl, condescendingly. "If your Lordship would only be so particular--so uncommon kind--as to name the thing to her Ladyship--by way of--eh, my Lord? A sort of breaking the ice, and all that"---- "Sir, I feel and have a just pride in assuring you, that the Lady Cecilia is a young lady of that superior delicacy of"---- "_Does_ your Lordship really think I've a _ghost_ of a chance?" interrupted Titmouse, anxiously. "_She_ must have named the thing to your Lordship, no doubt--eh, my Lord?"