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s wealth making an impression on her。
He stayed to lunch at Lindencroft； and was much pleased when Lavinia expressed her opinion that 〃Mr。 Barnum or Tom Thumb owned about all Bridgeport。〃
The General took his leave and returned to five o'clock dinner； accompanied by his mother； who was delighted with Lavinia。 The General took Mr。 Barnum aside and begged him for an invitation to stay all night； 〃For；〃 said he； 〃I intend to ask her to marry me before the Commodore arrives。〃
After tea Lavinia and the General sat down to play backgammon。 By and by the rest went to their separate rooms； but Tom Thumb had volunteered to sit up for the Commodore； and persuaded Miss Warren to keep him company。
The General was beaten at backgammon； and after sitting a few minutes； he evidently thought it time to put a clincher on his financial abilities。 So he drew from his pocket a policy of insurance and handed it to Lavinia； asking her if she knew what it was。
Examining it； she replied； 〃It is an insurance policy。 I see you keep your property insured。〃
〃But the beauty of it is； it is not my property；〃 replied the General； 〃and yet I get the benefit of the insurance in case of fire。 You will see；〃 he continued； unfolding the policy； 〃this is the property of Mr。 Williams； but here； you will observe； it reads 'loss； if any； payable to Charles S。 Stratton； as his interest may appear。' The fact is； I loaned Mr。 Williams three thousand dollars； took a mortgage on his house； and made him insure it for my benefit。 In this way； you perceive； I get my interest； and he has to pay the taxes。〃
〃That is a very wise way； I should think；〃 remarked Lavinia。
〃That is the way I do all my business；〃 replied the General； complacently； as he returned the huge insurance policy to his pocket。 〃You see；〃 he continued； 〃I never lend any of my money without taking bond and mortgage security； then I have no trouble with taxes； my principal is secure； and I receive my interest regularly。〃
The explanation seemed satisfactory to Lavinia； and the General's courage began to rise。 Drawing his chair a little nearer to hers； he said：
〃So you are going to Europe； soon？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Lavinia； 〃Mr。 Barnum intends to take me over in a couple of months。〃
〃You will find it very pleasant；〃 remarked the General； 〃I have been there twice； in fact I have spent six years abroad； and I like the old countries very much。〃
〃I hope I shall like the trip； and I expect I shall；〃 responded Lavinia； 〃for Mr。 Barnum says I shall visit all the principal cities； and he has no doubt I will be invited to appear before the Queen of England； the Emperor and Empress of France； the King of Prussia； the Emperor of Austria； and at the courts of any other countries which we may visit。 Oh！ I shall like that； it will be so new to me。〃
〃Yes； it will be very interesting indeed。 I have visited most of the crowned heads；〃 remarked the General； with an evident feeling of self…congratulation。 〃But are you not afraid you will be lonesome in a strange country？〃 asked the General。
〃No； I think there is no danger of that； for friends will accompany me；〃 was the reply。
〃I wish I was going over； for I know all about the different countries； and could explain them all to you；〃 remarked Tom Thumb。
〃That would be very nice；〃 said Lavinia。
〃Do you think so？〃 said the General； moving his chair still closer to Lavinia's。
〃Of course；〃 replied Lavinia； coolly； 〃for I； being a stranger to all the habits and customs of the people； as well as to the country； it would be pleasant to have some person along who could answer all my foolish questions。〃
〃I should like it first rate； if Mr。 Barnum would engage me；〃 said the General。
〃I thought you remarked the other day that you had money enough； and was tired of traveling；〃 said Lavinia； with a slightly mischievous look from one corner of her eye。
〃That depends upon my company while traveling；〃 replied the General。
〃You might not find my company very agreeable。〃
〃I would be glad to risk it。〃
〃Well； perhaps Mr。 Barnum would engage you； if you asked him；〃 said Lavinia。
〃Would you really like to have me go？〃 asked the General； quietly insinuating his arm around her waist； but hardly close enough to touch her。
〃Of course I would；〃 was the reply。
The little General's arm clasped the waist closer as he turned his face nearer to hers； and said：
〃Don't you think it would be pleasanter if we went as man and wife？〃
And after a little hesitation she agreed that it would。
A moment later a carriage drove up to the door； the bell rang and the Commodore entered。
〃You here； General？〃 said the Commodore as he espied his rival。
〃Yes；〃 said Lavinia； 〃Mr。 Barnum asked him to stay； and we were waiting for you。〃
〃Where is Mr。 Barnum？〃 asked the Commodore。
〃He has gone to bed；〃 answered Tom Thumb； 〃but a supper has been prepared for you。〃
〃I am not hungry； thank you；〃 said the Commodore petulantly； 〃What room does Mr。 Barnum sleep in？〃
He was answered； and immediately went to Mr。 Barnum whom he found reading in bed。
〃Mr。 Barnum；〃 he said sarcastically； 〃does Tom Thumb BOARD here？〃
〃No；〃 said Mr。 Barnum； 〃Tom Thumb does not BOARD here。 I invited him to stop over night； so don't be foolish； but go to bed。〃
〃Oh； it's no affair of mine。 I don't care anything about it。 Only I thought he'd taken up his residence here。〃 And off he went to bed； in a very bad humor。
Ten minutes after； Tom Thumb rushed into the room in the greatest excitement； and cried joyfully： 〃We're engaged； Mr。 Barnum！ We're engaged！〃
〃Is that possible？〃 said Barnum。
〃Yes sir； indeed it is；〃 responded the General； 〃but you must'nt mention it。 We've agreed to tell no one； so don't say a word。 I'm going to ask her Mother's consent Tuesday。〃
Barnum swore secrecy； and the General went off radiant with happiness。
The next day the family plied Lavinia with all sorts of questions； but not a breath passed her lips that would give the slightest indication as to what had transpired。 She was most amiable to the Commodore； and as the General concluded to go home the next morning； the Commodore's happiness and good humor were fully restored。 The General made a call Sunday evening and managed to have an interview with Lavinia。 The next morning she and the Commodore returned to New York； without Mr。 Barnum。
The General called on Monday to tell Mr。 Barnum that he had concluded to send his letter to Lavinia's mother by his friend； Mr。 Wells； who had consented to go to Middleboro' the next day； and to urge the General's suit if necessary。
The General went to New York on Wednesday to wait there for Mr。 Wells's return。 That same day he and Lavinia came to Mr。 Barnum； and Tom Thumb said： 〃Mr。 Barnum； I want somebody to tell the Commodore that Lavinia and I are engaged； for I'm afraid there will be a row when he hears of it。〃
〃Why don't you do it yourself； General？〃 asked Barnum。
〃Oh！〃 said the General； almost shuddering； 〃I would not dare do it； he might knock me down。〃
〃I will do it myself；〃 said Lavinia。 So the General retired and the Commodore was sent for。 When he had joined them； Mr。 Barnum began by saying； 〃Commodore； do you