“‘No, sir.’

“‘Yes, so I thought, you were saying something—­will soon pass away.’

“I thought this dialogue, on the part of M’Slime, too characteristic to be lost.  I accordingly stole somewhat near the snuggery, until I got into a position from whence I could see them clearly, without being seen myself.  It was quite evident from the humor, which, in spite of a demure face glinted from her eye, that Eliza’s object was to occasion M’Slime to assume his real character, for I could easily see that from time to time she felt very considerable difficulty in suppressing her laughter.

“’The deafness, Eliza, I feel particularly troublesome, though not painful; as while transacting business it f-forces me to sit so, very close to my clients.’

“’But I am not a client, Mr. M’Slime, and you need not draw your chair so close to me—­there now, that will do.’

“’You are my sweet—­sweet girl; you are my client—­and you shall be my client—­and upon a most important subject—­the most important of all; verily, Eliza, this is a most delicious cup of refreshment.  How did you flavor it—­but, indeed, if I were, as I have been, before I was graciously called and chosen, I would have recourse to a harmless gallantry, and say that this most ambrosial beverage must have caught its sweetness from your lips—­its fragrance from your breath—­and its lustre from your eyes—­I would say so—­if I were as I have been—­and, indeed, as I am—­even yet, frail, Eliza, still frail, and very far, indeed, from perfection—­but—­still, even as I am I could scarcely scruple to relapse a little—­yea, only a little, Eliza, for the sake of such lips—­of such eyes—­and such a fragrant breath.  Alas! we are all frail.’

“’But, Mr. M’Slime, I surely didn’t think that you who stand so high in the religious world, and that the people look upon as a saint, would talk as you do.’

“’Ah, Eliza, my dear girl, it is very natural for you in your hitherto darkened state to say so; but, sweet Eliza, if you had your privileges, you could understand me.  For instance, in the indulgence of this precious little dialogue with you, I am only following up a duty that strengthens myself; for, Eliza, my precious creature, if more light were given you, you would be permitted to feel that an occasional lapse is for our good, by showing us our own weakness and how little we can do of ourselves.  No—­there is nothing which gives us so much confidence and strength as to know our own weakness; but, my sweet girl, of what use is it for us to know it, if we do not feel it; and why feel it—­unless we suffer it for better purposes to teach us a practical lesson to humble us.’

“’That’s queer doctrine, Mr. M’Slime, and I don’t properly understand it.’

“’I know you don’t, my darling girl; for it has not been given to you, as yet, to understand it.  Nay, it seems, as it were, a stumbling block to you, in your present state.’