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verend gentleman conceived to be his duty. He was still resolved to speak to Obadiah on the subject; and in pursuance of this resolution, he, on seeing him with Pokey in the course of the morning, rode up to him, with an appropriate expression of severity.

"Here comes Ted," said Obadiah, as the reverend gentleman approached. "I wonder what he's up to? There's something in the wind, safe. He's coming to talk to you."

"Or to you," observed Pokey.

"To me! He knows better: I should just like to catch him at it. Wouldn't I walk in!"

"Mr. Drant," said the reverend gentleman, solemnly, as Pokey touched his hat, and passed on, "I am desirous of having a word with you."

"Very well, sir," returned Obadiah, who didn't at the moment feel exactly self-possessed. "What is it, sir?"

"Is this your handwriting?" demanded the reverend gentleman, producing the letter containing the song.

"Yes, sir: that's my hand," replied Obadiah.

"Then, sir, let me ask, how you dared to send a letter of this description to Mr. Sound, accompanied, too, by this low trashy song."

"I can see nothing low and trashy about it."

"It is low and trashy; and if it were not, how dared you presume, sir, to send it to him?"

"I presumed, sir, to send it to him, because he wished me to do so."

"What, sir!—what!"

"Because he liked it so much, when he heard me sing it, that he asked me to let him have a copy."

"Is it possible that you can stand here, sir, and look me in the face, and unblushingly tell me such a falsehood as that?"

"It is not a falsehood. I sent it at his own request."

"Have you forgotten the fate of Ananias? Have you no care for your immortal soul? Why do you not come to church, sir?"

"That has got nothing to do with the song. Let's settle that point of the compass first. I say that he, boney fide, asked me to let him have a copy of 'Old England!'"

"When, sir?"

"Why, last night?"

"And where?"

"At the Crumpet!"

"Are you mad?"

"Not a bit of it! I suppose I know whether he was there or not? My mind don't amalgamate to such an extent, neither, as not to know that!"

"Do you mean then, solemnly to assert that he, Mr. Sound, was with you there last night?"

"To be sure I do! He was there last night, and stood brandy-and-water all round, like a fructifying trump as he is!"

"Like a what?"

"Like a fructifying trump! a good boney fide fellow! He's worth a