Her Marriage, Her Clothes, Her Appetite, and an Inventory of Her Furniture

           AweekortwoafterIdroppedtheletterIwasinahansomonmywaytocertainbarrackswhenloudabovethecity’sroarIheardthataccursedhaw-haw-haw,andtheretheywere,thetwoofthem,justcomingoutofashopwhereyoumayobtainpianosonthehiresystem.Ihadthemerestglimpseofthem,buttherewasanextraordinaryraptureonherface,andhisheadwasthrownproudlyback,andallbecausetheyhadbeenorderingapianoonthehiresystem.

           Sotheyweretobemarrieddirectly.Itwasallrathercontemptible,butIpassedontolerantly,foritisonlywhensheisunhappythatthiswomandisturbsme,owingtoacleverwayshehasatsuchtimesoflookingmorefragilethanshereallyis.

           WhennextIsawthem,theyweregazinggreedilyintothewindowofthesixpenny-halfpennyshop,whichisoneofthemostdeliciouslydramaticspotsinLondon.Marywastakingnotesfeverishlyonaslipofpaperwhilehedidtheaddingup,andintheendtheywentawaygloomilywithoutbuyinganything.Iwasinhighfeather.“Matchabandoned,ma’am,”Isaidtomyself;“outlookhopeless;anothervisittotheGovernesses’Agencyinevitable;can’tmarryforwantofakitchenshovel.”ButIwasimperfectlyacquaintedwiththelady.

           AfewdaysafterwardIfoundmyselfwalkingbehindher.ThereissomethingartfulaboutherskirtsbywhichIalwaysknowher,thoughIcan’tsaywhatitis.Shewascarryinganenormousparcelthatmighthavebeenabird-cagewrappedinbrownpaper,andshetookitintoabric-a-bracshopandcameoutwithoutit.