Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/431

deder clead, I would suggest that you had better have hib boiled every dight."

"Oh! I don't intend to let him sleep with me. We can make up a bed by the side of mine."

"Add secure yourself to hib?"

"Exactly."

"You haved't chaid edough! That, however, cad sood be badaged. We cad get ad additiodal ledgth id the bordidg."

This point having been settled, they reverted to the fact of Sir Charles being "open to conviction;" and having discussed it till half-past twelve, they made up their minds to retire. But Tom had a very poor night of it. Between one and four his rest was constantly broken, for the supper and the wine of which Sylvester had partaken, caused him to have a variety of dreams, which prompted him unconsciously several times to pull Tom nearly out of bed. He was, however, after four, suffered to sleep, which, as far as it went, was a blessing; but when he rose about half-past six, he didn't look fresh at all. He was, notwithstanding, in very fair spirits, and rallied his prisoner gaily, and then went with him to get a longer chain, which they had no sooner bought, than they entered a cab, and proceeded at once to the doctor's.

On their arrival, they found the doctor and Mrs. Delolme, Aunt Eleanor, and the reverend gentleman at breakfast, and when Tom had formally delivered up his prisoner, they joined them, and made a very fair meal—considering!

At the suggestion of the reverend gentleman—who always appeared anxious to be at the office at least twenty minutes before the coach started—the ladies soon after this retired, and when they returned dressed—for Mrs. Delolme had most graciously insisted upon seeing Aunt Eleanor safely to the coach—the reverend gentleman and Tom entered the doctor's carriage with the ladies, while Sylvester mounted the box.

On their arrival at Charing-cross, it was found that they were just half an hour too soon, which the reverend gentleman pointedly submitted was better than being half an hour too late. The propriety and truth of this original observation were indisputable of course, and Tom had him out of the carriage in consequence, and walked with him and Sylvester up and down the Strand until the horses were in, when he and Aunt Eleanor entered the coach, and Sylvester, who did not like riding inside, took his favourite seat on the box.

"Well, adieu!" said Tom, taking the hand of Aunt Eleanor, and pressing it with somewhat unusual warmth. "Good bye!—good bye! I shall rud dowd to Cotherstode wud of these days, add whed I do cobe, if you should be sidgle, the codsequedce bust be a batch."

Aunt Eleanor smiled as she bade him adieu, and so did her reverend friend, who, moreover, declared that he should be happy to see him, and wished him to name the time; but before he could answer, the coachman cried "All right!—chit, chit!" and they were off.

Now it is in reality a singular thing—Aunt Eleanor couldn't pretend to account for it—but the journey always did appear to her to be