t the Mans

e and I read the invitation over two or threetimes. I could scarcely eat my breakfast. I said - and I felt it from thebottom of my heart, - "Carrie darling, I was a proud man when I led youdown the aisle of the church on our wedding-da

I have notdanced with you for years."I cannot tell what induced me to do it, but I seized her round the waist,and we were silly enough to be executing a wild kind of polka when Sarahentered, grinning, and said: "There is a man, mum, at the door whowants to know if you

de, that we had received an invitation tothe Mansion House; and he said, to my astonishment, that he himself gavein my name to the Lord Mayor's secretary. I felt this rather disco

thecorner, to have the creases taken out. Told Gowing not to call nextMo

Mansion House, he said: "Oh, I'm asked, butdon't think I shall go." When a vulgar man like Spotch is asked, I feelmy invitation is considerably discounted. In the

n, whichwas sent to her to look at, with apologies for having

gloves for next Monday, andtwo white tie

ing which, I regret to say, Itwice thought

self. Mrs. James had come up from Sutton to help Carrie;so I could not help thinking it unreasonable that she should require theentire attention of Sarah, the

far forgot myself as to box the boy's ears. Hewent away crying, and said he should summons me, a thing I would nothave happen for the world. In the dark, I stepped on a piece of thecabbage, which brought me down on the flags all of a heap.

inguished. She was wearing a satin dress of sky-blue - myfavourite colour - and a piece of lace, which Mrs. James lent her, round theshoulders, to give a finish. I thought perhaps the dress was a little toolong behind, and decidedly too short in front, but Mrs. James said it was ELA MODE. Mrs. J

tunity of speaking to his lordship, who graciouslycondescended to talk with me some minute

ho kept saying: "Isn't it a pity we don'tknow anybody?"Once she quite lost her head. I saw someone who looked likeFranching, from Peckham, and was moving towards him when she seizedme by the coat-tails, and said quite loudly: "Don't

ourironmonger. He said, in the most familiar way: "This is better thanBrickfield Terrace, eh?" I simply looked at him, and said coolly: "Inever expected to see you here." He said, with a loud, coarse laugh: "Ilike that - if YOU, why not ME?" I replied: "Certainly," I wish

armerson on the back and hailed him as an old friend,and asked him to dine with him at his lodge. I was astonished. For fullfive minut

ing each other and

our aristocracy! I was just moving with Carrie, when Farmersonseize

s. Pooter." When I approached her, she said: "Don't letme take you away from friends. I am quite happy standing here alone ina crowd, knowing nobody!"As it takes two to make a quarrel, and as it was neither the time nor theplace for it, I gave my arm to Carrie, and said: "I hope my darling little

the soles of them with the points of the scissors or to put a little wet onthem. I had scarcely started when, like lightning, my left foot sl

th me with equal violence, breakingthe

t, and I expressed myself pretty strongly on the danger ofhaving a plain polished floor with no carpet or drugget to prevent peopleslipping. The gent

y said, in his loudvoice "Oh, are you the one w

ave these capers to the youngsters. Come andhave another glass, that is more in our line."Alt

er. As we were departing, Farmerson said: "Are you going? if so,you might give