"Ho, ho! I know the young lady. She is a parishioner of mine. Her father came into the title a year ago, and has gone out to New Zealand again, leaving his daughter in charge of Mrs. Belswin."
"Mrs. Belswin?"
"Yes! a very charming lady who acts as chaperon."
"Poor Archie."
"What, are you afraid of the dragon who guards the golden apples?" said the bookworm with great good humour. "Pooh! pooh! in my time young men were not such faint-hearted lovers. If he really adores this nymph of the ocean--she comes from New Zealand I believe--he'll soon propitiate the dragon."
"Is it an amiable dragon?"
"Humph! I'm afraid not! Your Hercules must be stout-hearted."
"What a pity Mrs. Valpy and her daughter are not the chaperons still."
"Eh! why I think Miss Valpy requires a chaperon herself, but perchance no Hercules eyes that golden fruit."
Silence on the part of Tobias, and a blush on his cheek.