"What you mean is, that we should make known our intentions before some mutual friends ere we part; eh, Sparks?
eh, Major ?" "Right, my boy,--right on every point." "Well, then, I thought of all that; and if you'll just send your servant over to my quarters for our captain,--he's the fittest person, you know, at such a time--" "How considerate!" said Mrs.Dalrymple.
"How perfectly just his idea is!" said the major.
"We'll then, in his presence, avow our present and unalterable determination as regards your fair daughters; and as the time is short--" Here I turned towards Matilda, who placed her arm within mine; Sparks possessed himself of Fanny's hand, while the major and his wife consulted for a few seconds.
"Well, O'Malley, all you propose is perfect.

Now, then, for the captain.
Who shall he inquire for ?" [Illustration: CHARLES POPS THE QUESTION.] "Oh, an old friend of yours," said I, jocularly; "you'll be glad to see him." "Indeed!" said all together.
"Oh, yes, quite a surprise, I'll warrant it." "Who can it be?
Who on earth is it ?" "You can't guess," added I, with a very knowing look.

"Knew you at Corfu; a very intimate friend, indeed, if he tell the truth." A look of something like embarrassment passed around the circle at these words, while I, wishing to end the mystery, resumed:-- "Come, then, who can be so proper for all parties, at a moment like this, as our mutual friend Captain Power ?" Had a shell fallen into the cold grouse pie in the midst of us, scattering death and destruction on every side, the effect could scarcely have been more frightful than that my last words produced.

Mrs.Dalrymple fell with a sough upon the floor, motionless as a corpse; Fanny threw herself, screaming, upon a sofa; Matilda went off into strong hysterics upon the hearth-rug; while the major, after giving me a look a maniac might have envied, rushed from the room in search of his pistols with a most terrific oath to shoot somebody, whether Sparks or myself, or both of us, on his return, I cannot say.

Fanny's sobs and Matilda's cries, assisted by a drumming process by Mrs.Dal's heels upon the floor, made a most infernal concert and effectually prevented anything like thought or reflection; and in all probability so overwhelmed was I at the sudden catastrophe I had so innocently caused, I should have waited in due patience for the major's return, had not Sparks seized my arm, and cried out,-- "Run for it, O'Malley; cut like fun, my boy, or we're done for." "Run; why?
What for?
Where ?" said I, stupefied by the scene before me.
"Here he is!" called out Sparks, as throwing up the window, he sprang out upon the stone sill, and leaped into the street.