"Only Bella's sister, Ada. She's a regular jolly girl, Ada is, you'll----Hullo!" For Tweddle had suddenly thrust his stick up the trap and stopped the cab. "I'm very sorry, James," he said, preparing to get out, "but--but you'll have to excuse me being of your company." "Do you mean that my Bella and her sister are not good enough company for you?" demanded Jauncy. "You were a shop-assistant yourself, Tweddle, only a short while ago!" "I know that, James, I know; and it isn't that--far from it. I'm sure they are two as respectable girls, and quite the ladies in every respect, as I'd wish to meet. Only the fact is----" The driver was listening through the trap, and before Leander would say more he told him to drive on till further orders, after which he continued-- "The fact is--we haven't met for so long that I dare say you're unaware of it--but _I'm_ engaged, James, too!" "Wish you joy with all my heart, Tweddle; but what then?" "Why," exclaimed Leander, "my Matilda (that's _her_ name) is the dearest girl, James; but she's most uncommon partickler, and I don't think she'd like my going to a place of open-air entertainment where there's dancing--and I'll get out here, please!" "Gammon!" said Jauncy. "That isn't it, Tweddle; don't try and humbug me. You were ready enough to go just now. You've a better reason than that!" "James, I'll tell you the truth; I have. In earlier days, James, I used constantly to be meeting Miss Parkinson and her sister in serciety, and I dare say I made myself so pleasant and agreeable (you know what a way that is of mine), that Miss Ada (not _your_ lady, of course) may have thought I meant something special by it, and there's no saying but what it might have come in time to our keeping company, only I happened just then to see Matilda, and--and I haven't been near the Parkinsons ever since. So you can see for yourself that a meeting might be awkward for all parties concerned; and I really must get out, James!" Jauncy forced him back. "It's all nonsense, Tweddle," he said, "you can't back out of it now! Don't make a fuss about nothing. Ada don't look as if she'd been breaking her heart for you!" "You never can tell with women," said the hairdresser, sententiously; "and meeting me sudden, and learning it could never be--no one can say how she mightn't take it!" "I call it too bad!" exclaimed Jauncy. "Here have I been counting on you to make the ladies enjoy themselves--for I haven't your gift of entertaining conversation, and don't pretend to it--and you go and leave me in the lurch, and spoil their evening for them!" "If I thought I was doing that----" said Leander, hesitating. "You are, you know you are!" persisted Jauncy, who was naturally anxious to avoid the reduction of his party to so inconvenient a number as three.