I did not think it was proper to tell Gus (who, between ourselves, is rather curious, and inclined to tittle-tattle) all the particulars of the family quarrel of which I had been the cause and witness, and so just said that the old lady--("They were the Drum arms," says Gus; "for I went and looked them out that minute in the 'Peerage'")--that the old lady turned out to be a cousin of mine, and that she had taken me to drive in the Park. Next day we went to the office as usual, when you may be sure that Hoskins told everything of what had happened, and a great deal more; and somehow, though I did not pretend to care sixpence about the matter, I must confess that I _was_ rather pleased that the gents in our office should hear of a part of my adventure. But fancy my surprise, on coming home in the evening, to find Mrs. Stokes the landlady, Miss Selina Stokes her daughter, and Master Bob Stokes her son (an idle young vagabond that was always playing marbles on St. Bride's steps and in Salisbury Square),--when I found them all bustling and tumbling up the steps before me to our rooms on the second floor, and there, on the table, between our two flutes on one side, my album, Gus's "Don Juan" and "Peerage" on the other, I saw as follows:-- 1. A basket of great red peaches, looking like the cheeks of my dear Mary Smith. 2. A ditto of large, fat, luscious, heavy-looking grapes. 3. An enormous piece of raw mutton, as I thought it was; but Mrs. Stokes said it was the primest haunch of venison that ever she saw. And three cards--viz. DOWAGER COUNTESS OF DRUM. LADY FANNY RAKES. MR. PRESTON. LADY JANE PRESTON. EARL OF TIPTOFF. "Sich a carriage!" says Mrs. Stokes (for that was the way the poor thing spoke). "Sich a carriage--all over coronites! sich liveries--two great footmen, with red whiskers and yellow-plush small-clothes; and inside, a very old lady in a white poke bonnet, and a young one with a great Leghorn hat and blue ribands, and a great tall pale gentleman with a tuft on his chin. "'Pray, madam, does Mr. Titmarsh live here?' says the young lady, with her clear voice. "'Yes, my Lady,' says I; 'but he's at the office--the West Diddlesex Fire and Life Office, Cornhill.' "'Charles, get out the things,' says the gentleman, quite solemn. "'Yes, my Lord,' says Charles; and brings me out the haunch in a newspaper, and on the chany dish as you see it, and the two baskets of fruit besides. "'Have the kindness, madam,' says my Lord, 'to take these things to Mr. Titmarsh's rooms, with our, with Lady Jane Preston's compliments, and request his acceptance of them;' and then he pulled out the cards on your table, and this letter, sealed with his Lordship's own crown." And herewith Mrs. Stokes gave me a letter, which my wife keeps to this day, by the way, and which runs thus:--