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to comprise Sam's views with respect to housekeeping require

ments.

'It'll take a matter of ten pound,' said Sam, and I'd like to know where to lay my 'ands on it.' 'I wish I could tell you, Sam,' said Frank.

'Thank you, sir. There is a way. You're not a sporting man yourself, are you, sir?' 'No, Sam.'

'You might know one as 'ud take a feller up. All I want is a gent to back me. 'Ow much can you clear in a runnin' 'op, step, and jump?

'Haven't the slightest idea, Sam. Never tried.'

Is there a bit o' ground about where I could show yer something on the quiet?' asked Sam mysteriously. But, mind! it's got to be kept dark.'

Entering into the humour of the thing, Frank led the way to a retired spot. The first thing Sam did was to fish from his pocket a tape line, and hand it to Frank; the next, to take off his tight moleskin jacket and waistcoat; the next, to tie a handkerchief round his waist. Then he dug up a line with his heel, as a starting point, in a manner which would have scandalised Sir Judah, had he witnessed the scattering of the gravel; then he ran backwards a dozen yards from the starting line, and took a mighty breath, and then came flying towards Frank, and, with feet as light as gossamer, hopped, stepped, and jumped, landing a great distance forward, squarely and fairly, flat upon his soles.

'Measure that, sir,' he said to Frank, with a beaming face.

Frank measured with the tape line, and found that the distance covered by Sam was 46 feet 8 inches. Sam received the announcement with a shout.

'Near a foot and a 'arf to the good,' he cried. The biggest distance ever kivered was 45 feet 4 inches, by a man in Cork, and that was considered a great performAll I want is a gent as 'ud back me for ten pound; I'd win the belt to a dead certainty.'

ance.

'You would want a man to jump against, Sam; don't forget that.'

'I'd challenge the world in the sporting papers. Some chap 'd come for'ard. There's a cock to every dung'ill. But where's the gent as 'd back me ?'

'Here he is, Sam !' cried a voice, and down from a tree beneath which Sam and Frank were standing came tumbling Mr. Umbrage, the lawyer. I'll back you, Sam,' he continued, laughing, as he brushed the dust from his clothes. 'You showed your confidence in me, and I'll show mine in you. Only you must keep my name dark-that's the term you use, isn't it? Call me The Unknown; keep me dark, Sam, or, by the Lord Chancellor's seal, my reputation would be gone for ever!'

'Well,' said Sam, with a grin, 'if this ain't the rummest go as ever 'appened to a chap! A lawyer backin' a sport! Do yer mean it, sir?'

'Mean it! Of course I do. Mr. Goldfinch, I place the matter in your hands. If Sam can get a

man to hop, step, and jump against, I'll back him; and if he wins, he can keep the ten pounds and marry the pretty dark-eyed girl. What is your opinion of old six-and-eightpence now, Sam ?'

'I'm flabbergasted!' said Sam; 'I wouldn't 'ave believed it onless it 'd 'appened to me. You're a brick, sir, out-and-out!'

'You're another!' retorted the lawyer, clapping Sam on the the back. 'Let me give you a piece of advice, Sam. Don't make a Don't make a grimace; I shall not charge you for it.'

'Fire away, then,' said Sam cheerfully.

'Never take things, nor men, by their looks. Even the old gentleman from below is not half as black as he is painted.'

'I'll bear that in mind, sir,' said Sam, with a sly look, and when I make 'is acquaintance, I'll tell 'im wot a good opinion you've got of 'im !'

There were so many pleasant episodes in the day's proceedings, that Flo's whimsical notion of inviting such a strange mixture of people to Silversides Hall appeared likely to be crowned with entire success; but appearances, as they often are, were deceptive. A discovery made by Sir Judah Silversides caused so severe a shock to that gentleman's nervous system as to produce a disturbance that threatened to mar the happiness of the day, and really went a long way in that direction. The first indications of the storm were given by Sir Judah himself, who, at about five o'clock in the afternoon, near

being made for the departure of his humble visitors, suddenly made his appearance before Flo and Frank, and said, in a tone of virtuous agitation,

'I regret, I very much regret, Flo, that I was prevailed upon to accede to your wish with respect to these people.'

'Why, papa?' asked Flo, in surprise; 'I am sure they have all enjoyed themselves very much.'

'I am shocked,' continued Sir Judah, 'very much shocked. Disgraceful proceeding! That such a thing should have occurred at Silversides Hall! I would rather —yes, rather have forfeited a hundred pounds than have seen what I saw a few moments ago in the— a-nut walk. I repeat, Flo, I am shocked-and wounded; deeply, deeply wounded!'

Flo looked at Frank, with a little comic cry of alarm. The allusion to the nut walk was sufficient to discompose her, for it was only a few moments ago—the exact time referred to by Sir Judah—that a small love passage had occurred between her and Frank in that retired spot, in the course of which certain very natural osculatory exchanges had taken place. And they had believed themselves alone-entirely, entirely alone!

'I am very sorry, papa,' faltered Flo, blushing to the roots of her hair, but feeling inclined at the same time to laugh at Sir Judah's indignation. What harm, she thought, could there be in being kissed by a man to whom she was engaged? It was altogether too bad to make a fuss about nothing.

the time when preparations were She was glad that no one but them

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CHAPTER X.

IN WHICH SIR JUDAH SILVERSIDES GIVES HIS OPINIONS UPON AVERAGE' AND 'AGGREGATE.'

'PAPA, dear,' said Flo, in a low voice, to Sir Judah, if you intend to speak to Mr. Blossom, we had better go away. It will not be agreeable to him or Rachel Whitebine'-with a glance of sympathy at the poor girl-'to be spoken to on such a-a' (Flo could not help unconsciously imitating her father's manner at this point, but she did so with a grace which became her) 'delicate matter before people.'

'I desire you to stay,' said Sir Judah, in a loud tone. 'It is not for me, or you, a question as to what will be agreeable to thesethese persons, but as to what is right and proper for me to do upon this occasion. And I shall act as my judgment and-and sense ofa-propriety lead me to act. I desire you to stay. Mr. Goldfinch can, if he thinks fit, retire. That course is open to him. I have no claim upon his attention.'

Flo instinctively laid her hand upon Frank's arm to detain him. The little action conveyed a kind of appeal for protection, and Frank was not slow in responding to it.

hospitality offered to him by a
gentleman of my-my position!'
'Hallo!' said Sam, stepping for-
ward upon being thus directly re-
ferred to. 'Wot's the row ?'

'No harm!' continued Sir Judah, for the moment ignoring Sam; it was not to be supposed that he would allow his flowing periods to be rudely disturbed by vulgar interruptions; 'no harm in-a-embracing one of my guests in my grounds, without "With your leave," or "By your leave!" No harm! Florence, you—you astonish me !'

Sam, divining what Sir Judah referred to, slapped his thigh, and burst into a great laugh, which had such a contagious effect that a smile appeared upon the lips of every one present except Sir Judah. A feeling of relief was experienced by all except Sir Judah at the pleasant turn to the affair given by Sam's jolly laughter.

'Sir!' cried Sir Judah, as though he had received a blow.

'You mean me and 'er said Sam, when he recovered his breath. 'You sor me a-kissin' of 'er in the nut-walk there! Step for'ard, Ra

As you have no objection, Sir chel; you ain't done nothink to

Judah,' he said, 'I will stay.'

'What are you going to say, papa ?' asked Flo, still in the same low tone. 'I am sure there has been no harm done!'

'Harm!' exclaimed Sir Judah. 'No harm in a person of that description'-pointing to Sam Blossom-taking advantage of the

be ashamed of.'

'Nothing to be ashamed of!' gasped Sir Judah. But what, sir, what if I object?'

'Can't for the life of me see wot you've got to do with it,' retorted Sam. 'I arks your pard'n, Sir Jooder; I don't mean to be impertinent; but you take it so seriously.'

'I do take it seriously, sir. I am, in a measure—I say, in a measure What are you looking round

for, sir ?'

'For the measure,' replied Sam, not at all indisposed to accept the challenge thrown out by Sir Judah's offensive attitude. 'You didn't give it back to me, sir,' he said, addressing Frank.

'O,' said Frank, fully appreciating the humour of the situation, and entirely disposed to side with Sam, 'your tape line! Here it is, Sam.'

'Thank yer, sir,' said Sam; and, having pocketed it, he cocked his head on one side, like a sparrow, and looked an invitation to Sir Judah to continue.

'I do not,' observed that gentleman, of course, expect anything but-a-vulgarity from a person of your description-'

'Beggin' yer pardon agin, Sir Jooder,' interrupted Sam, 'I didn't 'appen to make myself, or I might 'ave made myself a gentleman, and then not 'ave been better off for it.'

'Sam' said Frank, in a warning

tone.

'I can't 'elp it, Mr. Goldfinch. I ain't goin' to be trod upon.'

'I was remarking,' said Sir Judah, addressing old Mrs. Whitebine, who, being deaf, and therefore unable to hear what was going on, bobbed her old head up and down in regular cadence to Sir Judah's words and actions, 'that I do not look for anything but vulgarity from persons in a certain station of life, and I am consequently not surprised-no, I am not surprised at the manner in which my remarks are being received on the present

occasion. Nor am I to be diverted, by any amount of vulgarity, from my purpose.'

'Look 'ere, Sir Jooder,' said Sam, it ain't to be expected as I could give you a lesson in good manners, but I think, if I was where you was, and you was where I was, that I'd drore it a little mild. Wulgar I may be, but I knows 'ow to be'ave myself. If it was me alone you was talkin' to, I wouldn't mind it a bit; not a bit, Sir Jooder. You might talk till you was bloo in the face; it wouldn't 'urt me! But there's another party drored into this 'ere matter, and I'm not goin' to stand quiet, and see 'er put upon. That other party, Sir Jooder, I'd like you to remember, is a lady.' 'A lady!'

'Well, a gal, a young womananything you like to call 'er, so long as it's nothin' low. There ain't much in a name, when the language is decent, and you'll 'ear nothin' from me that ain't fit for ears perlite. Likewise, per'aps you'll do the same, Sir Jooder.'

'You address me,' said Sir Judah, 'as if you were my equal.'

'I am your ekeval in some things,' retorted Sam pluckily, though not in others.'

'Come, come,' said Sir Judah, adopting a playfully satirical manner. 'You admit that I am your equal in some things. That is something, at all events.'

'Make the most of it, and when you've got the cream out of it, I 'ope it'll do you much good. You've choose to drag us out in this 'ere way, me and Rachel, afore your friends, for wot reason? 'Cause I kissed 'er in your nut-walk. I

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