"Very good, so be it. I'll call in on that day. I'll be glad to have the thing off my mind before the holidays. Mrs. Tinker's at Harrogate, and I was thinking of running over for a few days. Till Thursday, then," and Mr. Tinker went his way feeling less comfortable in his mind than he had done for many a long day. "Confound the fellow," he said to himself, wiping his brow, "and confound his stuffy little office, too. It's worse than the sweating-room at the Bank." Left to himself Nehemiah Wimpenny sunk into a deep reverie; and, to judge from the faint smile that occasionally played upon his face, a not unpleasing one. "So Miss Dorothy's to be old Tinker's heiress," thus ran his thoughts, "and that means probably old Eph. Thorpe's into the bargain. Guess I rather frightened the immaculate Jabez with that hint of a probable Chancery suit. Talk about men starting at their own shadows, as if any possible suitor for the fair Dorothy would dream of muddling away not only her fortune, but her expectations by going to law with a man who could leave him or not leave him thousands of pounds just as the fancy took him. Should have thought Tinker was more level headed. It isn't the money he's frightened of, it's the scandal. These cold, reserved, proud men are always so devilish thin-skinned. Wonder who the happy man 'll be.--Haven't heard of anyone nosing around." "By Jove! why shouldn't I cut in myself? She's a pretty little filly and a high-stepper too. I've had my fling, and it's about time I looked around for Mrs. Nehemiah. Wonder I never meet her out anywhere. Tinker keeps her up pretty close apparently, perhaps she doesn't care for high-teas, small talk, and cribbage. Shows her sense." "Wonder how I can get to know her. No use fishing for an invitation to Tinker's. Jove! I have it. Didn't he say he was off to Harrogate to cheer up the old woman. Let's see, Jabez is an Aenonite. H'm, I must sweeten the Reverend David--well that's easy enough. Pity I don't go to Aenon; but that's soon got over. One chapel's as good as another to a broad-minded man. All retail the same blooming rot. I mean they all lead to the same place. Different roads to the same city--that's the phrase." "Whitsuntide is it, next week? Shouldn't mind a run over to Scarborough. Better than sulphur-water at Harrogate, friend Tinker. Why! there'll be the Sunday School treats, band, flags, processions stale buns and coffee grounds. The sportive Dorothy's pretty sure to be doing the cheap philanthropic with the kids--and Nehemiah 'll be there or thereabouts, you bet."