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"That's alvays the case, sir; they never vill."

"It is lamentable that it should be so!"

"Werry! but they alvays knows better than anybody else."

"They always appear to believe they know better."

"That's jist precisely my meaning."

"But then you know it's obstinacy: nothing but obstinacy!"

"Nothing; I've alvays found them svells the most obstropulusest going."

"If men would in all cases listen to reason—"

"That's the pint. Reason's the ticket!"

"But you see they will not. However, 'suus cuique mos!"

"Werry good."

"Hollo! Bob! what's the row?" inquired one of the cabman's friends.

"Why, Dick," said Bob, winking very significantly: "this here gentleman here is hinterested in a haction."

"Does his mother know he's out?" inquired Dick, with very great indiscretion.

"My mother," replied the reverend gentleman, "of whom you could have had no knowledge, has been dead twenty years!"

Bob again winked at Dick, who withdrew.

"He's a wulgar man, that, sir," observed Bob, "werry."

"I must say that I don't think him very refined."

"But then vot can you expect? He's had no eddication."

"Then he's much to be pitied."

"Werry true. There you've jist hit my sentiments. Werry true, indeed! A cold morning, sir," added Bob. "Heverythink's werry dull. I hope you'll allow me to drink your honour's health?"

"Here's a shilling," said the reverend gentleman, "which, as you're a civil man, you may apply to that purpose."

"Beg pardon, sir: I hope you von't think me too intruding, but as I knows you're a gentleman as feels for distress, I'd be werry much obleedged to you if you'd be so kind as to lend me jist another eighteenpence. I ain't had a fare to-night, sir, reely. I shall be sure to see you agin, sir; and then I'll pay your honour!"

"Well, my good man, I don't know you at all; but if, as you say, you are distressed, here is one-and-sixpence more: take it home to your wife and family."

"Thank you, sir: I'm werry much obleeged to you," said Bob, who winked at Dick in the distance, "werry."

And having delivered himself to this effect, he at once rejoined his "wulgar" friend, who burst into a loud roar of laughter.

The reverend gentleman didn't understand this: he conceived it to be imputable to the man's vulgarity, and left Palace-yard, and wandered about until half-past seven, when, feeling exceedingly fatigued, he knocked at Tom's door and was admitted.

At eight o'clock precisely, Aunt Eleanor, the doctor, Mr. Scholefield, the reverend gentleman, Sylvester, and Tom, sat down to breakfast, but there was not one of them who had the slightest appetite. Their anxiety caused them all to feel nervous. They couldn't eat. They drank tea