 our appointment?«
    The pony remained immoveable.
    »Oh you naughty Whisker,« said the old lady. »Fie upon you! I'm ashamed of
such conduct.«
    The pony appeared to be touched by this appeal to his feelings, for he
trotted on directly, though in a sulky manner, and stopped no more until he came
to a door whereon was a brass plate with the words Witherden - Notary. Here the
old gentleman got out and helped out the old lady, and then took from under the
seat a nosegay resembling in shape and dimensions a full-sized warming-pan with
the handle cut short off. This, the old lady carried into the house with a staid
and stately air, and the old gentleman (who had a club-foot) followed close upon
her.
    They went, as it was easy to tell from the sound of their voices, into the
front parlour, which seemed to be a kind of office. The day being very warm and
the street a quiet one, the windows were wide open; and it was easy to hear
through the Venetian blinds all that passed inside.
    At first there was a great shaking of hands and shuffling of feet, succeeded
by the presentation of the nosegay; for a voice, supposed by the listener to be
that of Mr. Witherden, the Notary, was heard to exclaim a great many times, »oh,
delicious!« »oh, fragrant, indeed!« and a nose, also supposed to be the property
of that gentleman, was heard to inhale the scent with a snuffle of exceeding
pleasure.
    »I brought it in honour of the occasion, sir,« said the old lady.
    »Ah! an occasion indeed, ma'am; an occasion which does honour to me, ma'am,
honour to me,« rejoined Mr. Witherden, the Notary. »I have had many a gentleman
articled to me, ma'am, many a one. Some of them are now rolling in riches,
unmindful of their old companion and friend, ma'am, others are in the habit of
calling upon me to this day and saying, Mr. Witherden, some of the pleasantest
hours I ever spent in my life were spent in this office - were spent, sir, upon
this very stool; but there was never one among the number, ma'am, attached as I
have been to many of them, of whom I augured such bright things as I do of your
only son.«
    »Oh dear!« said the old lady. »
