Bill. Well, the werry moment their bellies was as long an' as loose as a o'-clo'-bag of a winter's mornin', I'd bring 'em all up to this 'ere winder, five or six at a time—with the darbies on, mind ye

Jim. And I'm to be there to see, Billain't I?

Bill. If you're good, Jim, an' don't forget yer prayers.

Jack. My eye! it's as good as a penny gaff! Go it, Bill.

Bill. Then I up an' addresses 'em: "My Lords an' Gen'lemen, 'cos as how ye're all good boys, an' goes to church, an' don't eat too many wittles, an' don't take off your bracelets when you goes to bed, you shall obswerve me eat."

Jim. Go it, Bill! I likes you, Bill.

Bill. No, Jim; I must close. The imagination is a 'ungry gift, as the cock said when he bolted the pebbles. Let's sojourn the

meetin❜.

Jack. Yes; come along. Tain't a comf'able corner this yere : the wind cuts round uncommon sharp. Them pies ain't goodleastways not to look at.

Bill. They ain't disgestible. But look ye here, Jack and Jim-hearkee, my kids. (Puts an arm round the neck of each, and whispers first to one and then to the other.)

Enter MATTIE and SUSAN.

Sus. Now, Mattie, we're close to the house, an' I don't want to be seen with you, for she's mad at me.

Mat. You must have made her mad, then, Sue.

Sus. She madded me first: what else when she wouldn't believe a word I said? She'd ha' sworn on the gospel book, we sent the parcel up the spout. But she'll believe you, an' give you something, and then we'll have a chop!

Mat. How can you expect that, Sue, when the work's lost?

Sus. Never mind; you go and see.

Mat. I shan't take it, Susan. I couldn't.

Sus. Stuff and nonsense!

I'll wait you

round the corner: I don't like the smell o'

them pastry things.

Exit. MATTIE walks past the window. Mat. I don't like going. It makes me feel

a thief to be suspected.

Bill. Lor! it's our Mattie !

Mattie !-Mattie! Mattie !

There's our

Mat. Ah, Bill! you're there-are you? Bill. Yes, Mattie. It's a tart-show. You walks up and takes yer chice;-leastways, you makes it somebody else takes it.

Mat. Wouldn't you like to take your choice sometimes, Bill ?

Bill. In course I would.

Mat. Then why don't you work, and better yourself a bit ?

Bill. Bless you, Mattie! myself is werry comf'able. He never complains.

Mat. You're hungry sometimes, ain't you?

Bill. Most remarkable 'ungry, Mattiethis werry moment. Odd you should ask now--ain't it?

Mat. You would get plenty to eat if you would work.

Bill. Thank you--I'd rayther not. Them as ain't 'ungry never enj'ys their damaged tarts. If I'm 'appy, vere's the odds? as the cat said to the mouse as wanted to be let off the engagement. Why should I work more'n any other gen'leman ?

Mat. A gentleman that don't work is a curse to his neighbours, Bill.

Bill. Bless you, Mattie! I ain't a cursenohow to nobody. I don't see as you've got any call to say that, Mattie. I don't go fakin' clies, or crackin' cribs—nothin' o' the sort. An' I don't mind doin' of a odd job, if it is a odd one. Don't go for to say that again, Mattie.

Mat. I won't, then, Bill. But just look at yourself! You're all in rags.

Bill. Rags is the hairier, as the Skye terrier said to the black-an'-tan.-I shouldn't object to a new pair of old trousers, though.

Mat. Why don't you have a pair of real new ones ? If you would only sweep a crossing

Bill. There ain't a crossin' but what's took. Besides, my legs ain't put together for one place all day long. It ain't to be done, Mattie. They can't do it.

Mat. There's the shoe-black business, then. Bill. That ain't so bad, acause you can shoulder your box and trudge. But if it's all the same to you, Mattie, I'd rayther enj'y life they say it's short.

Mat. But it ain't the same to me.

bad for you to be idle, Bill!

It's so

Bill. Not as I knows on. I'm tollable

jolly, so long's I gets the browns for

Mat. Wouldn't you like a bed

blanket to it?

my bed.

with a

Bill. Well, yes-if it was guv to me. But