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a throshing: so strip.' 'I sha'n't bemean myself,' said Drant. 'Then take that,' said Bob, 'to begin with.' And he hit him a wonder just over the eyes. Well, this made Drant naturally wild, and as he then saw that he must fight, he pulled off his coat, and went at it. But, Lor! he couldn't stand against Bob a minute and a half. In less time than that, Bob kept his promise, and gave him such a throshing as he never had before. Drant then went off to a lawyer, and the lawyer recommended him as a friend not by no means to take out a warrant; no, but to bring what he calls a action: so Bob has been served with a little slip of paper, and it's going to be settled at the 'sizes. But nobody pities Obadiah: he's always a gabbling: he's always making mischief: he's always setting people together by the ears. But it is about the rummest start in life, though, that you should be the ghost after all! But didn't you never remember nothing about it in the morning?"

"Nothing: all was to me a perfect blank."

"Well that is stunning, sir. I call it stunning. However, you'll be safe enough here. I'll not let you go out, sir, I'll warrant. Another thing is, sir, you may depend upon me: for in course you wish me to keep it a secret?"

"I wish you to answer no impertinent questions; but as for secrecy, that is now impossible, seeing that the fact has been published in all the papers."

"Indeed, sir! Has it though, really?"

"I have lately been concerned in a trial, and as the report of it will be, of course, interesting to you, I'll lend you the paper to read."

"I'm obleedged to you, sir. I should like to read it above all things in the world."

"You need not go and talk about it all over the village, although the affair is quite sure to be known. There is, however, one thing which need not be known, and that is the plan which we are about to adopt here. Cook and Mary will know, of course, that you sleep in my room, but even they need know nothing beyond that fact."

"They shall not know from me, sir: depend upon that. I'll not open my lips to a single soul."

"Very well. Then you had better go now and remove your bed. Do you want any assistance?"

"Not the leasest in life, sir. I shall be able to manage it alone. But Lor!—the ideor! Who could have thought it! But the paper, sir, please: I hope you'll not forget the paper?"

"You shall have it the moment you have finished your job."

"Thank you, sir; I'll bring it here to read. Not a soul shall set eyes on it, I'll take care of that. But of all the stunning things as I ever heered tell on, that of a man riding full gallop over the country fit to break his blessed neck, fast sleep, bangs Moses! It's a mercy you wasn't killed dead upon the spot. However, there'll be no more of that while you're here; so I'll go at once, and get the bed ready."

He did so; and being most anxious to look at the paper, he resolved on being the very shortest possible time about it. He hadn't worked