and fork, which, in their disgusting state, he was fain prisoner at the establishment of Diaper and Sarsenet, to put up with, the table cloth on which he might in Tottenham-court Road, as Titmouse at Messrs. have wiped them having been removed. A hunch of Dowlas's, of which said establishment he was as bread that seemed to have been tossing about in the great an ornament as Titmouse of that of Messrs. pan for days, and half-a-pint of flat-looking and sour- Dowlas. They were about the same height, and smelling table-beer, completed the fare set before him; opposite which he sate for some minutes, too much occupied with his reflections to commence his repast. He was in the act of scooping out of the basin some of its inviting contents, when" Titmouse !" exclaimed the voice of one of his shopmates, peering in at him through the half-opened door, "Mr. Tagrag wants you! He says you've had plenty of time to finish your dinner!" equals in puppyism of manners, dress, and appearance; but Titmouse was much the better-looking. With equal conceit in their faces, that of Huckaback, square, and flat, and sallow, had an expression of ineffable impudence, that made a lady shudder, and a gentleman feel a tingling sensation in his right toe. About his small black eyes there was a glimmer of low cunning;-but I have not patience to paint the fellow any further. When Titmouse left the shop "Oh, tell him, then, I'm only just beginning my that night, a little after nine, he hurried to his lodgdinner-eugh! such as it is," replied Titmouse, ings, to make himself as imposing in his appearance masticating the first mouthful with an appearance of before Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap, as his no particular felish, for to the like of it he had time and means would admit of. Behold, on the never before sate down since he had been in the table lay a letter from Huckaback. It was written honoured house he was then serving. in a flourishing mercantile hand; and here is a copy of it : In a few minutes' time Mr. Tag-rag himself entered the room, stuttering" How much longer, sir, is it your pleasure to spend over your dinner, eh?". "Not another moment, sir," answered Titmouse, looking with ill-concealed disgust at the savoury victuals before him; "if you'll only allow me a few minutes to go home and buy a penny roll instead of all this" "Dear Tit, "I hope you are well, which is what I can only middling say in respect of me. Such a row with my governors as I have had to-day! I thought that, as had been in the House near upon eighteen months at L. 25 per annum, I might naturally ask for L. 30 Very good, sir! Very parti-cu-larly a-year (which is what my Predecessor had,) when, good, Mr. Titmouse," replied Tag-rag, with ill-would you believe it. Mr. Sharpeye (who is going to subdued fury; "any thing else that I can make a be taken in as a Partner,) to whom I named the leetle memorandum of against the day of your leaving thing, ris up in rage against me, and I were had up into the counting-house, where both the governors 66 us ?"" This hint of two-fold terror, i. e. of withholding was, and they gave it me in such a way that you the wretched balance of salary that might be due to never saw nor heard of; but it wasn't all on their him, on the ground of misconduct, and of also giving would have thought I had been a going to rob the own side, as you know me too well to think of. You him a damning character, dispelled the small remains of Titmouse's appetite, and he rose to return to the house. They said I was most oudacious, and all shop, involuntarily clutching his fist as he brushed that, and ungrateful, and what would I have next? close past the tyrant Tag-rag on the stairs, whom he Mr. Diaper said times was come to such a pitch!! would have been delighted to pitch down head-fore- since he was first in the business, for salaries is most; and if he had done so, none of his fellow-risen to double, and not half the work done that was, slaves below, in spite of their present sycophancy said if I left them just now, I might whistle for a and no gratitude-(cursed old curmudgeon!) He towards Tag-rag, would have shown any particular alacrity in picking up their common oppressor. Poor character, except what I would not like; but if he Tittlebat resumed his old situation behind the don't mind I'll give him a trick of law about thatcounter; but how different his present from his which brings me to what happened to-day with our former air and manner! With his pen occasionally I would call in on to-day, being near the neighbourlawyers, the people at Saffron Hill, whom I thought peeping pertly out of his bushy hair over his right ear, and his yard measure in his hand, no one, till hood with some light goods, to see how affairs was Monday morning, had been more cheerful, smirking, getting on, and stir them up a bit”. and nimble, than Tittlebat Titmouse: Alas, how This almost took Titmouse's breath awaycrestfallen now! None of his companions could -"feeling most interested on your account, as you make him out, or guess what was in the wind; so know, dear Tit, I do. 1 said I wanted to speak to they very justly concluded that he had been doing one of the gentlemen on business of wital importance; something dreadfully disgraceful, the extent of which whereat I was quickly shown into a room where two was known to Tag-rag and himself alone. Their gents was sitting. Having put down my parcel for jeers and banters were giving place to cold distrust a minute on the table, I said I was a very intimate ful looks, that were much more trying to bear. How friend of yours, and had called in to see how things he longed to be able to burst upon their astounded went on about the advertisement; whereat you never minds with the pent-up intelligence that was silently saw in your life how struck they looked, and stared racking and splitting his little bosom ! But if he did at one another in speechless silence, till they said to -the terrible firm of Quirk, Gammon, and Snap-me, what concerned me about the business? or someOh! the very thought of them glued his lips together. thing of that nature, but in such a way that ris a rage But then there was one whom he might surely make in me directly, all for your sake (for I did not like a confidant-the excellent Huckaback, with whom the looks of things); and says I, I said, we would he had had no opportunity of communicating since let them know we were not to be gammoned; whereSunday night. That gentleman was as close alat up rose the youngest of the two, and ringing the 6 ell, he says to a tight laced young gentleman with not again foolishly to attempt fine writing, which I a pen behind his ear, Show him to the door,' which now perceive to be entirely out of my line. In lanI was at once; but, in doing so, let out a little of my guage more befitting me and my subject, I may be mind to them. They're no better than they should allowed to say that there is no getting a quart into a be, you see if they are; but when we Trick the pro- pint pot; that Titmouse's mind was a half-pint-and perty, we'll show them who is their masters, which it was brimful. All the while that I have him going consoles me. Good-bye, keep your sperrits up, and on thus, however, Titmouse was hurrying down HolI will call and tell you more about it on Sunday. So born at a rattling rate. When at length hehad farewell (I write this at Mr. Sharpeye's desk, who is reached Saffron Hill, he was in a bath of perspiration. coming down from dinner directly). Your true His face was quite red; he breathed hard; his heart friend, R. HUCKABACK. beat violently; he had got a stitch in his side; and "P. S.-Met a young Jew last night with a lot of he could not get his gloves on his hot and swollen prime cigars, and (knowing he must have stole them, hands. He stood for a moment with his hat off, them looked so good at the price) I bought one shil-wiping his reeking forehead, and endeavouring to reling's worth for me, and two shilling's worth for cover himself a little, before entering the dreaded you, your salary being higher, and to say nothing of presence to which he had been hastening. He even fancied for a moment, that his eyes gave out sparks your chances." of light! While thus pausing, St. Andrew's Church All that part of the foregoing letter which related struck ten, half electrifying Titmouse, who bolted up to its amiable writer's interview with Messrs. Quirk, the hill, and was soon standing opposite the door. Gammon, and Snap, Titmouse read in a kind of How the sight of it smote him, as it reminded him spasm-he could not draw a breath, and felt a chok- of the way in which, on the preceding night, he had ing sensation coming over him. After a while, "I bounded out of it! But that could not now be helped; may spare myself," thought he, "the trouble of rig- so ring went the bell, as softly, however, as he could; ging out-Huckaback has done my business for me for he recollected that it was a very loud bell, and he with Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap-mine will did not wish to offend. He waited some time, and only be a walk in vain!" After what had occurred nobody answered. He waited for nearly two minlast night between him and them!!-and so urgent-utes, and trembled, assailed by a thousand vague ly as he had been enjoined to keep the matter to him- fears. He might not, however, have rung loudly self! Of course Huckaback would seem to have enough-so-again, a little louder, did he venture to been sent by him; seeing he appeared to have as-ring. Again he waited. There seemed something sumed the hectoring tone which Titmouse had tried threatening in the great brass plate on the door, out so vainly over-night, and now so bitterly repented of, of which "Quirk, Gammon, and Snap" appeared to and he had no doubt grossly insulted the arbiters of look at him ominously. While he thought of it, by Titmouse's destiny, (for he knew Huckaback's im- the way, there was something very serious and stern pudence,) he had even said that he (Titmouse) in all their faces-he wondered that he had not nowould not be GAMMONED by them. But time was ticed it before. What a drunken beast he had been pressing with a beating heart he scrambled into a to go on in their presence as he had!-thought he; change of clothes-bottling up his wrath against the then Huckaback's image flitted across his disturbed unconscious Huckaback till he should see that wor-fancy-"Ah!" thought he "that's the thing! thy. In a miserable state of mind he set off soon That's it, depend upon it; this door will never be after for Saffron Hill at a quick pace, which soon be- opened to me again-he's done for me!" He breathcame a trot, and often sharpened into a downright ed faster, clenched his fist, and involuntarily raised run. He saw, heard, and thought of nothing, as he it in a menacing way, when he heard himself adhurried along Oxford Street and Holborn, but Quirk, dressed-"Oh! dear me, sir, I hope I haven't kept Gammon, Snap, and Huckaback, and the reception you waiting," said the old woman whom he had bewhich the latter had secured for him-if, indeed, he fore seen, fumbling in her pocket for the door-key. was to be received at all. The magical words, Ten She had been evidently out shopping, having a plate Thousand a-Year, had not disappeared from the field in her left hand, over which her apron was thrown. of his troubled vision; but how faintly and dimly" Hope you've not been ringing long, sir!" they shone-like the Pleiades coldly glistening "Oh, dear! no, ma'am," replied Titmouse with through intervening mists far off-oh! at what a anxious civility, and a truly miserable smilestupendous, immeasurable, and hopeless distance!" Afraid I may have kept them waiting," he added, Imagine those stars gazed at by the anguished and almost dreading to hear the answer. despairing eyes of the bereaved lover, madly believ- "Oh no, sir, not at all-they've all been gone since ing one of them to contain HER who has just departed a little after nine; but there's a letter I was to give from his arms, and from this world, and you may you!" She opened the door; Titmouse nearly dropform a notion of the agonizing feelings-the absorbed ping. "I'll get it for you, sir-let me see, where contemplation of one dear, dazzling, but distant ob- did I put it? Oh, in the clerk's room, I think." ject, experienced on this occasion by Mr. Titmouse. Titmouse followed her in. "Dear me-where can No, no; I don't mean seriously to pretend that so it be?" she continued, peering about, and then snufgrand a thought as this could be entertained by his fing the long wick of the candle which she had left little optics intellectual; you might as well suppose burning for the last quarter of an hour, during her abthe tiny eye of a black beetle to be scanning the sence. "I hope none of the clerks has put it away in vague, fanciful, and mysterious figure and propor- mistake! Well, it isn't here, any how." tions of Orion, or a chimpanzee to be perusing and pondering over the immortal Principia. I repeat, that I have no desire of the sort, and am determined 66 Perhaps, ma'am, it's in their own room"-suggested Titmouse, in a faint tone. "Oh, pr'aps it is!" she replied. "We'll go and 22 see"-and she led the way, followed closely by Tit-length, overcome by his feelings, he cried bitterlymouse, who caught his breath as he passed the green- not checked even by the occasional exclamations of baize door. Yes, there was the room-the scene of one or two passers-by. He could not at all control last night was transacted there, and came crowding himself. He felt as if he could have almost relieved over his recollection;-there was the green-shaded himself by banging his head against the wall! A candlestick-the table covered with papers-an arm- tumultuous feeling of mingled grief and despair prechair near it, in which, probably, Mr. Quirk had been vented his thoughts, for a long while, from setting sitting only an hour before to write the letter they on any one idea or object. At length, when the violence were now in quest of, and which might be to forbid of the storm had somewhat abated, on concluding a him their presence for ever! How dreary and desert- third perusal of the death-warrant to all his hopes, ed the room looked, thought he, as he peered about which he held in his hand, his eye lit upon the strange word which was intended to describe his it in search of the dreaded letter! "Oh, here it is! well, I never!-who could have friend Huckaback; and it instantly changed both the kind of his feelings, and the direction in which they put it here, now? I'm sure I didn't. Let me seeit was, no doubt," said the old woman, holding the had been rushing. Grief became rage; and the letter in one hand, and putting the other to her stream foamed in quite a new direction namely, towards Huckaback. That fellow he considered to be head"Never mind ma'am," said Titmouse, stretching the sole cause of the direful disaster which had behis hand towards her, "now we've got it, it don't fallen him. He utterly lost sight of one circumstance, "Seem parti- that one should have thought might have occurred to much signify." She gave it to him. cularly anxious for me to get it-did they?" he en- his thoughts at such a time-viz., his own offensive quired, with a strong effort to appear unconcerned- and insolent behaviour over-night, to Messrs. Quirk, Gammon and Snap. But so it was:-yes, upon the the dreaded letter quite quivering in his fingers. “No, sir—Mr. Quirk only said I was to give it devoted (but unconscious) head of Huckaback, was you when you called. B'lieve they sent it to you, to descend the lightning rage of Tittlebat Titmouse. He crammed the but the clerk said he couldn't find your place out; The fire that was thus quickly kindled within, soon by the way, (excuse me, sir,) but your's is a funny dried up the source of his tears. name! How I heard 'em laughing at it, to be sure! letter into his pocket, and started off at once in the What makes people give such queer names? Would direction of Leicester Square, breathing rage at every step-viresque acquirens eundo. His hands kept conyou like to read it here, sir?-you're welcome." "No, thank you, madam-it's of not the least con- vulsively clenching together as he pelted along. sequence," he replied, with a desperate air; and tos- Hotter and hotter, became his rage as he neared the sing it with attempted carelessness into his hat, residence of Huckaback. When he had reached it, which he put on his head, he very civilly wished her he sprung up stairs; knocked at his quondam friend's good-night, and departed-very nearly inclined to door; and on the instant of its being-doubtless sickness, or faintness, or something of the sort, which somewhat surprisedly-opened by Huckaback, who the fresh air might perhaps dispel. He quickly espied was undressing, Titmouse sprung towards him, let a lamp at a corner, which promised to afford him an fly a goodly number of violent blows upon his face uninterrupted opportunity of inspecting his letter. He and breast and down fell Huckaback upon the bed It was addressed-simply, behind him, insensible, and bleeding profusely from took it out of his hat. "Mr. Titmouse, Cocking Court, Oxford Street," his nose. "There! there!"-gasped Titmouse, breathless and exhausted, discharging a volley of oaths and op probrious epithets at the victim of his fury. "Do it -cu-cu-cursed dle again in other people's-you"Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap, present their again! You will, won't you! You'll go-and medofficious"-But his rage was spent-the paroxysm compliments to Mr. Titmouse, and are anxious to was over; the silent and bleeding figure of Huckasave him the trouble of his intended visit this evening. "They exceedingly regret that obstacles (which back was before his eyes; and he gazed at hin, terHe sunk down it is to be hoped, however, may not prove ultimately ror-stricken. What had he done! on the bed beside Huckaback-then started up, insurmountable) exist in the way of their prosecuting their intended enquiries on behalf of Mr. Titmouse. of remorse and fright. It was rather singular that "Since their last night's interview with him, cir-wringing his hands, and staring at him in an ecstacy cumstances which they could not have foreseen, and the noise of such an assault should have roused no one to enquire into it; but so it was. Frightened over which they have no control, have occurred, which render it unnecessary for Mr. T. to give himand bolted the door; and addressed himself, as well self any more anxiety in the affair at least, not until almost out of his bewildered senses, he closed as he was able, to the recovery of Huckaback. he shall have heard from Messrs. Q. G. and S. Propping him up, and splashing cold water in his face, Titmouse at length discovered symptoms of revival, which he anxiously endeavoured to accelerate, by putting to the lips of the slowly-awakening victim swallowed a little; and soon afterwards, opening his of his violence some cold water, in a tea-cup. He eyes, stared on Titmouse with a dull eye and bewildered air. "If any thing of importance should hereafter transpire, it is not improbable that Mr. T. may hear from them. "They were favoured, this afternoon, with a visit from Mr. T.'s friend-Mr. Hucklebottom." "Saffron Hill, Wednesday Even'g, 12th July, 182-." When "What's been the matter?" at length he faintly enquired. "Oh, Hucky! so glad to hear you speak again. | "But, pray, don't send me away from you. I shall It's I-I-Titty! I did it! Strike me Hucky, as go straight to the devil if you do. I've no friend but soon as you're well enough! Do-kick me-any- you, Hucky. Yet I've been such a villain to you!thing you choose! I won't hinder you" cried Tit- But it quite put the devil into me, when all of a sudmouse, sinking on his knees, and clasping his hands den I found it was you." together, as he perceived Huckaback rapidly reviving. 66 Me! Why what are you after?" interrupted "Why-what is the matter ?" repeated that gen- Huckaback, with an air of angry wonder. tleman, with a wondering air, raising his hand to his "Oh dear, dear!" groaned Titmouse; "if I've nose, from which the blood was still trickling. The been a brute to you, which is quite true, you've been fact is, that he had lost his senses, not so much from the ruin of me clean! I'm clean done for, Huck. the violence of the injuries he had received, as of the suddenness with which they had been inflicted. "I did it all-yes, I did!" continued Titmouse, gazing on him with a look of agony and remorse, "Why-I cant be awake-I cant !" said Huckaback, rubbing his eyes, and then staring at his stained shirt-front and hands. Cleaned out! You've done my business for me; knocked it all in the head. I sha'n't never hear any more of it-they've said as much in their letter-they say that you've called”— Huckaback now began to have a glimmering notion of his having been, in some considerable degree, connected with the mischief of the day-an uncon"Oh, yes, you are-you are!" groaned Titmouse; scious agent in it. He audibly drew in his breath, "and I'm going mad as fast as I can! Do what you as it were, as he more and more distinctly recollected like to me! Lick me if you please! Call in a con- his visit to Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap; and stable! Send me to gaol! Say I came to rob you-adverted more particularly to his threats, uttered, too, any thing-1 don't care what becomes of me!" in Titmouse's name, and as if by his authority. "Why-what does all this jabber mean, Tit- Whew! here was a kettle of fish. mouse?" enquired Huckaback sternly, apparently meditating reprisals. "Oh, yes, I see! Now you are going to give it me! I won't stir. So hit away, Hucky." "Why are you mad?" enquired Huckaback, grasping him by the collar rather roughly. "Yes, quite! Mad !-ruined!-gone to the devil all at once!" Now strange and unaccountable as, at first thought, it may appear, the very circumstance which one would have thought calculated to assuage his resentment against Titmouse—namely, that he had really injured Titmouse most seriously, (if not indeed irreparably,) and so provoked the drubbing which had just been administered to him-had quite the contrary effect. Paradoxical as it may seem, matter of clear "And what if you are? What did it matter to mitigation was at once converted into matter of agme? What brought you to me, here ?" continued gravation. Were the feelings which Huckaback Huckaback, in a tone of increasing vehemence. then experienced akin to that which often produces "What have I done to offend you? How dare you hatred of a person whom one has injured? May it come here? And at this time of night, too? Eh?" be thus accounted for? That there is a secret satis"What, indeed! Oh lud, oh lud, oh lud! Kick faction in the mere consciousness of being a sufferer me, I say strike me! You'll do me me good, and a martyr-and that, too, in the presence of a perbring me to my senses. Me to do all this to you! son whom one perceives to be aware that he has wanAnd we've been such precious good friends always, tonly injured; that one's bruised spirit is soothed by I'm a brute, Hucky-I've been mad, stark mad, the sight of his remorse-by the consciousness that Hucky-and that's all I can say." he is punishing himself infinitely more severely than 66 Huckaback stared at him more and more; and be- we could punish him; and of the claim one has obgan at length to suspect how matters stood-namely, tained to the sympathy of every body who sees, or that the Sunday's incident had turned Titmouse's may hear of one's sufferings, (that rich and grateful head-he having also, no doubt, heard some desperate balm to injured feeling.) But when, as in the case bad news during the day, smashing all his hopes. A of Huckaback, feelings of this description (in a coarse mixture of emotions kept him silent. Astonishment and small way, to be sure, according to his kind) -apprehension-doubt-pride-pique- resentment. were suddenly encountered by a consciousness of his He had been struck-his blood had been drawn by having deserved his sufferings; when the martyr felt the man there before him on his knees, formerly his himself quickly sinking into the culprit and offender; friend, now, he supposed, a madman. when, I say, Huckaback felt an involuntary con"Why, curse me, Titmouse, if I can make up my sciousness that the gross indignities which Titmouse mind what to do to you!" he exclaimed. "I-I had just inflicted on him, had been justified by the suppose you're going mad, or gone mad, and I must provocation-nay, far less than his mischievous and forgive you. But get away with you-out with you, impudent interference had deserved;-and when or-or-I'll call in"feelings of this sort, moreover, were sharpened by a "Forgive me-forgive me, dear Hucky! Don't certain tingling sense of physical pain from the blows send me away-I shall go and drown myself if you which he had received the result was, that the do." sleeping lion of Huckaback's courage was very near "What the d-1 do I care if you do? You'd awakening. much better have gone and done it before you came "I've half a mind, Titmouse"-said Huckaback, here. Nay, be off and do it now, instead of blubber-knitting his brows, and appearing inclined to raise ing here in this way." his arm. There was an ominous pause for a moment "Go on! Hit away-it's doing me good-the or two, during which Titmouse's feelings also underworse the better!" sobbed Titmouse. "Come, come-none of this noise here. tired of it." went a slight alteration. His allusion to Huckaback's I'm ruinous insult to Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap, unconsciously converted his remorse into rage, which 66 66 it rather perhaps resuscitated. He rose from his Why, first and foremost, how uncommon polite knees. "Ah!" said he, in quite an altered tone, they are, (except that they haven't manners enough "you may look fierce! you may !-you'd better strike to spell my name right)"_ me, Huckaback--do! Finish the mischief you've begun this day! Hit away-you're quite safe," and he secretly prepared himself for the mischief which-did not come. Really-and so they are !" exclaimed Titmouse, rather elatedly. "And then, you see, there's another thing-if they'd meant to give the thing the go-by altogether, what could have been easier than to have said so?-but they haven't said any thing of the sort, so they don't mean to give it all up." "Lord, Huck! what would I give for such a head as yours! What you say is quite true," said Titmouse, still more cheerfully. 66 To be sure, they do say there's an obstacle-an obstacle, you see-nay, its obstacles, which is several, and that"- -Titmouse's face fell. But they say again, that it's-it's-curse their big words they say it's-to be got over in time." "Well-that's something, isn't it?" "Oh, no! it's all done for-it's all up with me!" "To be sure it is; and an't any thing better than "But what's been done?-let us hear," said nothing? But then, again, here's a stone in the other Huckaback, as he passed a wet towel to and fro over pocket-they say there's a circumstance!-Don't you his ensanguined features. It was by this time clear hate circumstances, Titty ?--I do." that the storm which had for some time given out "So do I!-What does it mean? I've often heard only a few faint fitful flashes or flickerings in the dis--isn't it a thing. And that may be anything." tance had passed away. Titmouse, with many grievous sighs, took out the letter which had produced the paroxysms we have been describing, and read it aloud. And only see how they've spelled your name, Huckaback-look!" he added, handing his friend the letter. "There's a great dif-hem! And they go on to say it's happened since you was there""Curse me, then, if that don't mean you, Huckaback!" interrupted Titmouse, with returning anger. No, that can't be it; they said they'd no control over the circumstance;-now they had over me; for "How particular vulgar!" exclaimed Huckaback, they ordered me to the door, and I went; ain't that with a contemptuous air, which, overspreading his so, Titty ?-Lord, how my eye does smart, to be features, half closed as was his left eye, and swollen sure!" as was his cheek and nose, would have made him a [This was judiciously thrown in at that moment queer object to one who had leisure to observe such by Huckaback, as a kind of set-off.] matters. "And so this is all they say of me," he "And don't I smart all over, inside and out, if it continued. "How do you come to know that I've been doing you a mischief? All I did was just to look in as respectful as possible, to ask how you was, and they very civilly told me you was very well, and we parted". Nay, and that's a lie, Huckaback, and you know it!" interrupted Titmouse. "It's true, so help me!" vehemently asseverated Huckaback. "Why, perhaps you'll deny that you wrote and told me all you said," interrupted Titmouse, indignantly, feeling in his pocket for Huckaback's letter, which that worthy had at the moment quite forgotten having sent, and certainly seemed rather nonplussed on being reminded of. "Oh-ay, if you mean that,hem!-he stammered. come to that?" enquired Titmouse, dolefully. ter-only uncommon civil, and saying if any thing "There's nothing particular in the rest of the let turns up you shall hear." in that " said Titmouse, quickly. "Well-if it is all over-what a pity! Such things as we could have done, Titty, if we'd got the thing-eh ?" Titmouse groaned at this glimpse of the heaven he seemned shut out of for ever. fortable-like, in the letter?" he enquired, with a deep "Can't you find anything-nothing at all, comsigh. over. Huckaback again took up the letter and spelt it "Well," said he, striving to give himself an "Come, you know you're a liar, Huck-but it's appearance of thinking, "there's something in it that, no good now; liar or no liar, it's all over." after all, I don't seem quite to get to the bottom of "The pot and kettle, anyhow, Tit, as far as that they've seemingly taken a deal of pains with it." goes-but let's spell over this letter; we haven't [And undoubtedly it was a document that had studied it yet; I'm a hand rather at getting at what's been pretty well considered by its framers, before said in a letter!-Come"-and they drew their chairs being sent out; though, probably, they had hardly together, Huckaback reading over the letter, slowly, anticipated its being so soon afterwards subjected to alone; Titmouse's eyes travelling incessantly from the scrutiny of the acute intellects which were now his friend's countenance to the letter, and so back engaged upon it.] again, to gather what might be the effect of its perusal. "There's a glimpse of daylight yet, Titty!" said Huckaback, as he concluded reading it. "Now! Is there really? Do tell me, Hucky", "And then, again, you know they're lawyers; and do they ever write any thing that hasn't got more in it than any body can find out? These gents that wrote this, they're a trick too keen for the thieves even-and how can we hem but I wonder if that |