"If you had not a tender brother to look after you, your young limbs might be cramped with rheumatism, and twitched with palsy, before any one would think of bringing _you_ a cloak." "Wait a bit!" say I, recovering my good-humor with an effort, reflecting that it is no use to be vexed--that they _mean_ nothing--and that, lastly, _I have brought it on myself_! "Wait for _what_ ?" asks Barbara, laughing.

"Till Toothless Jack has grown used to his new teeth ?" "By-the-by," cries Bobby, eagerly, "that was since you went away, Nancy: he has set up a stock of _new_ teeth--_beauties_--like Orient pearl--he wore them in church last Sunday for the first time.

We tell Barbara that he has bought them on purpose to propose in.

Now, do not you think it looks _promising_ ?" "We do not mean, however," says Algy, lighting a cigar, "to let Barbara go _cheap_! Now that we have disposed of you so advantageously, we are beginning to be rather ambitious even for _Tou Tou_." "We think," says Bobby, giving a friendly but severe pull to our youngest sister's outspread yellow locks, "that Tou Tou would adorn the _Church_.

Bishops have mostly _thin_ legs, so it is to be presumed that they admire them: we destine Tou Tou for a bishop's lady!" Hereupon follows a lively fire of argument between Bobby and his sister; she protesting that she will _not_ espouse a bishop, and he asseverating that she shall.