"Yes; and--and--You know, _Patty, Tom_ paid me a good Deal of Attention from the First; and somehow I was won by it, there's Something so sincere and genuine about him. And he's very diverting too, and the Soul of Good-humour--in short, I liked him very much; all the better for his liking me, and telling me so whenever we went out together. Well, when he went Home with the Monkey, I missed him sadly; and as you were very short upon me about that Time, I thought you saw how it was and didn't like it; which made me vex a good Deal. When he came back, I was very glad; and when you were gone, he kept staying on, till it was Time to return to his Ship. The last Walk we took together, which was when he was on the very Brink of Sailing, out it all came! he made me a downright Offer, and said you knew all about it, he had spoken to you at the _Old Angel_, and you were favourable. Well, this encouraged me, and so I as good as said yes, only I told him I knew _Father_ and _Mother_ would be hurt at it, on such a short Courting, and therefore could not tell them of it till he returned from his next Voyage. _Tom_ was quite willing; for what good would it have done him? only he begged and prayed me to keep constant to him, and not be over-persuaded, while he was away, to have any one else; which of course I promised. So we walked along together as merry as Birds, though on the Point of parting for two Years, without much noting Anything going on around us, till we were forced to pause by a Knot of People on the Pavement, seeing a fine Lady get out of a Hackney-Coach. _Tom_ drew me closer to him; and at the same Moment a Man in a black Coat pops his Face under _Tom's_ Hat, and says, 'Will you like to be married, Sir?' _Tom_ bursts out laughing with Surprise, and says, 'Aye, that I should, my Lad!' and the Man taking him by the Shoulders and giving him a Push, we were under a little Gothic Doorway the next Minute. A gay bridal Party coming out, pressed us against the Wall. 'Dear _Tom_,' whispered I fearfully, 'what Place is this? It's no Church.' 'Not a bit of it,' replies he, smiling, 'but yet here's a Parson marrying People, many of them of Quality too; and though I don't suppose he can tie a very tight Knot, it will serve to keep you engaged to me till I come back; and then we'll have a merry Wedding, with Mr. _Fenwick_ for our Parson.' And oh, _Patty_, he took me so by Surprise that I was over-persuaded!" [Illustration] CHAPTER XVI. _The Imprudence of Prudence._ "I never heard tell of such a Thing in my Life!" cried I, breathlessly. "Ah, I knew you'd say so," said _Prudence_, lapsing into Tears. "It was so very silly." "Silly? Wicked! Such a Mockery! You don't call it a real Marriage, I hope!" "Oh dear, no. But if you were in my Place, you wouldn't consider yourself at Liberty to marry another?"