‘Then that’s a bargain, mind,’ observed Amelia significantly.

‘Bargain, bargain, bargain—­certainly,’ replied he; ’and I’ll lead off with you, or you’ll lead off with me—­whichever way it is—­meanwhile, I’ll trouble you for a piece of that gingerbread.’

Having supplied him with a most liberal slice, she resumed the subject of the ball.

‘Then we’ll fix it so,’ observed she.

‘Oh, fix it so, certainly—­certainly fix it so,’ replied his lordship, filling his mouth full of gingerbread.

‘Suppose we have it on the day of the races?’ continued Amelia.

‘Couldn’t be better,’ replied his lordship; ‘couldn’t be better,’ repeated he, eyeing her intently through his formidable specs.

His lordship was quite in the assenting humour, and would have agreed to anything—­anything short of lending one a five-pound note.

Amelia was charmed with her success.  Despite the spot on her nose, she felt she was winning.

His lordship sat like a target, shot at by all, but making the most of his time, both in the way of eating and staring between questions.

At length the ladies withdrew, and his lordship having waddled to the door to assist their egress, now availed himself of Jawleyford’s invitation to occupy an arm-chair during the enjoyment of his ‘Wintle.’

Whether it was the excellence of the beverage, or that his lordship was unaccustomed to wine-drinking, or that Jawleyford’s conversation was unusually agreeable, we know not, but the summons to tea and coffee was disregarded, and when at length they did make their appearance, his lordship was what the ladies call rather elevated, and talked thicker than there was any occasion for.  He was very voluble at first—­told all how Sponge had knocked him about, how he detested him, and wouldn’t allow him to come to the hunt ball, &c.; but he gradually died out, and at last fell asleep beside Mrs. Jawleyford on the sofa, with his little legs crossed, and a half-emptied coffee-cup in his hand, which Mr. Jawleyford and she kept anxiously watching, expecting the contents to be over the fine satin furniture every moment.

In this pleasant position they remained till he awoke himself with a hearty snore, and turned the coffee over on to the carpet.  Fortunately there was little damage done, and, it being nearly twelve o’clock, his lordship waddled off to bed.

Amelia, when she came to think matters over in the retirement of her own room, was well satisfied with the progress she had made.  She thought she only wanted opportunity to capture him.  Though she was most anxious for a good night in order that she might appear to advantage in the morning, sleep forsook her eyelids, and she lay awake long thinking what she would do when she was my lady—­how she would warm Woodmansterne, and what a dashing equipage she would keep.  At length she dropped off, just as she thought she was getting into her well-appointed chariot, showing a becoming portion of her elegantly turned ankles.