"Yes, sir, it is for my young lady. Is it ready, young man?"

"No, it ain't: and never will," squealed Dick angrily "It's a vile 'oax;
and you ought to be ashamed of yourself bringing it into a respectable
shop."

Alfred silenced him, and told Sarah he thought Miss Dodd ought to know
the nature of this prescription before it went round the chemists.

He borrowed paper of Dick and wrote:

"Mr. Alfred Hardie presents his compliments to Miss Dodd, and begs leave
to inform her that he has, by the merest accident, intercepted the
enclosed prescription. As it seems rather a sorry jest, and tends to
attract attention to Miss Dodd and her movements, he has ventured with
some misgivings to send it back with a literal translation, on reading
which it will be for Miss Dodd to decide whether it is to circulate.

"'On Wednesday, at ten P.M., let her go in a fly to the Town-hall, and
dance with thirteen little {little dogs, puppies, whelps,} especially
with mine: return home at six A.M. and sleep till dinner, and repeat the
folly as occasion serves.'"

"Suppose I could get it into Miss's hands when she's alone?" whispered
Sarah.

"You would earn my warmest gratitude."

"'Warmest gratitude!' Is that a warm gownd, or a warm clock, I wonder?"