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mischief. I wouldn't have had it known that that young man was here standing brandy-and-water—as you told Rouse—for five times the money he spent."

"Well, but Teddy didn't believe me."

"You say that you stuck to it."

"And so I did. But he thought it was false: and he thinks so still. Mr. Sound, no doubt, denied it. And—as it proved—he believed him and not me."

"If I were sure of that, I'd deny it, too," said Quocks.

"And so would I," cried Pokey.

"Well, but how can we manage it?" said Legge. "How is it to be done?"

This was the question: and while they were engaged in discussing it, the reverend gentleman—who, after due deliberation, had decided on calling upon Legge, with the view of ascertaining whether Obadiah's statement was, or was not, false—rode up to the door.

"I've been told," said he, when Legge went out to speak to him, "that young Mr. Sound was here drinking last night."

"Who told you that, sir?" demanded Legge.

"Drant: Obadiah Drant."

"Obadiah Drant!" said Legge, with a contemptuous expression; "why you surely don't believe a word he says."

"Well, I certainly did not believe that," returned the reverend gentleman: "and I told him at the time that I didn't believe it; and yet thought it strange—very strange—that he should adhere to his assertion so firmly."

"Oh, he'll assert anything, sir: that man will. His word's not worth a rush. Had he spread a report that you were here drinking last night, sir, I shouldn't have been in the slightest degree astonished."

"Why, he must be a very bad man!"

"He's not a bit too good, sir: depend upon that. But no one takes notice of anything that he says, and I'm quite sure that nothing that he can say is worth your attention."

"Well: he's a bad man—a very bad man. I am sorry to find that there's a man in my parish so bad. Good day, Mr. Legge."

"I wish you good day, sir."

"If you see that wretched man, tell him, from me, that I hold his conduct in abhorrence."

"I will, sir," replied Legge; "depend upon that."

The reverend gentleman then rode towards the cottage, and Legge returned to the room, in which he found Obadiah secured by Quocks, Bobber, and Pokey. The cause of this may be briefly explained. Obadiah had heard all that passed outside; and, conceiving himself to be an ill-used man, became so highly indignant, that he was about to rush out and spoil all, with a view to his own complete justification, when Quocks and Bobber seized him, and held him in a chair, while brave Pokey stopped up his mouth with a towel.

"Well!" he exclaimed, on being released, "you've done it. Haven't you? You amalgamated nicely! Didn't you? What! do you think