And jest then the music played up; and out at that cottage-door come the loveliest young creetur as ever I set eyes on, a reglar beauty: wax-works was

fools to 'er.

Every one begun a-clappin' of their 'ands as she come forrard, a-makin' of 'er obedience quite pretty; and I says to Brown, “Well, she is a dear, and you can tell as she's from the country: look at 'er rosy cheeks," for I never did see any one look more rosyer.

Well, there she was a-standin' just over them musicianers, as couldn't play for lookin' at 'er, with 'er lovely 'air all in ringlets down 'er back, jest, for all the world, like a 'air-dresser's winder, and a book-muslin skirt that full, that it stuck out like a umbreller all round 'er.

I couldn't take my eyes off 'er, and says to Brown, "She is a love, to be sure; but," I says, "Brown!"

He says, "Oh, bother! What is it?"

"Why," I says, "she certingly is a dear creetur; but, in my opinion, 'er things is full short."

Brown, he says, "All the better."

I says, "Mr. Brown, you're a brute; but," I says, "all as I've got to say is, if she was a dorter of

mine, growed up like that, she shouldn't stand at the hedge of a pressy pitch of fiddlers, not with sich short things on as them. Wotever would you say if you see me a-standin' up there dressed like that?"

He only busts out a-larfin' that loud as made parties 'oller out, "'Ush!" and stare round at us, as is so rediculous of Brown, a-makin' of 'isself that conspicerous in a public place, where parties wishes for to be quiet, in course.

Well, them two waggerbones 'ad drawed theirselves back while that young gal sung a little song, a-wishin' she were a thing of hair. As I says, "Well, I'm sure she's got a plenty, if all 'er own,' as made them as was near me snigger like; tho' some took my remark werry 'uffy, partickler a young woman with a sojer, as set next me, as tossed 'er 'ead every time as I opened my lips.

When she'd done a-singin', that young gal begun a-talkin' about 'er mounting 'ome; and that chap with the feathers comes up to 'er with a start like, and says, "Aughty beauty, 'ow long will you disdain my suits? 'Ave I not gold? 'ave I not lands? will I not lay hall at your feet?"

But she up and spoke that proper, and says,

"No, my lord; never, my lord! Though poor and lowly, I am 'umble and innercent; and,” she says, "I would rather," she says, "'ave innercency on the mounting top than wice in a walley."

I was

so pleased to 'ear 'er talk like that, so proper, that I says to 'er, I says, "And right you are, my dear,” as made some fools bust out a-larfin’.

But law bless you! that chap in the feathers, he wasn't to be put off with no words like them, but ketches 'old on 'er by the wristes, and I do believe were agoin' to be downright rude on the spot.

But she give a squall; and, as luck would 'ave it, there were a sea-farin' party a-comin' by, a reg'lar sailor in little white trousers and a shiny 'at, with a stick and a bundle jest like a sailor, as says, “Avast there! wot a lovely fieldmale in distress, and old Jack Marlin'spike, shiver my timbers."

Oh! I was so glad to see 'im, I could 'ave give 'im a kiss; and I says, “Oh, you old dear!"

But the chap in the feathers, he were ready for 'im, bless you; for he takes and whips off his cloak, and if he weren't stuck full of swords and daggers all round 'im!

It give me such a orful turn; for I can't abear the sight of them fire-arms, as is well known will go off like a gun when least espected.

So I says, "Brown," I says, "there'll be murder 'ere, I can see-the hegg-cup this hinstant, if you please."

"Oh! I'm glad as I took it ; for, if I 'adn't, I never could 'ave set and see it; for them two got a-fightin' with the sailor like mad, till they knocks 'im down on one knee, tho' he wouldn't give in, with fire a-flashin' out of them swords, till he were reg'lar down; and then they was agoin' to massercree 'im on the spot, when that young gal got a couple of pistols somewheres, and come and 'eld 'em to their two good-for-nothink 'eads.

You should 'ave see 'ow them waggerbones was took aback, as went over that bridge a-gnashin' of their teeth like a couple of tigers debaulked of their .cubs.

That young gal, she run away into the cottage, glad to get away from such company. But the sailor, he got up, and made 'isself werry agreeable, a-singin' and a-dancin' quite cheerful, — jest like a sailor all over.

Well, I do think as I must 'ave dropped off a bit, as some will; for, tho' the 'art is light, the heyes is 'eavy sometimes. But there wasn't no occashuns for Brown to ketch me like that sharp in the side

with 'is elber, as he did, and say, "Come, old snorer, if you're agoin' to sleep all night, you might as well be at 'ome."

I says, "Mr. Brown, I am not reg'lar asleep, tho' dosey, and wot you takes for snores is sobs; for I 'as a feelin' 'art, and can't 'elp a-frettin' about that young gal."

He says, "Oh, bother the young gal! she's all right. Here, you take the hegg-cup, as is about your size."

I'm thankful as I did take it; for I'm sure, if I 'adn't, I should 'ave screamed out, bein' that surprised a-lookin' up, and seein' all the place turned into a bed-room, a good-sized room, I might say large, tho' not much furniture, with a little tent-bed, with check curtings to the winder, and a chest of drawers as looked desolate like; and there was that young gal as we'd see at fust, with a candle in 'er 'and, as she put down on the chest of drawers, and takes and draws the curtings, and turns down the bed, all nat'ral like.

Well, then she takes off 'er little 'at, and kicks off 'er little shoes, and begins for to undo the little jacket she'd got on.

So I says,

"Brown!" and gives 'im a nudge.