The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-12-26
The conversation which we have re.

The conversation which we have re
ported between Mr.. Morpeth and hi
solicitor took place on Saturday
II Tom Halliday copied out the advertise
ment as directed, and duly left it wit
the agent. BY the time he did this
was three o'clock, and with ligh
heart he hung up his wellwOrn offic
coat, gave his hat an extra polish, an,
then started Off TO certain tree in Re
gents Park, where he found Bessi
I Moyse already awaiting him.
After some indescribable proceedin!
on the part of Tom, which caused Bes
sic to exclaim, "Well, l never, sir
And with so many people looking
tooW they joined arm in arm, aud pro
ceeded to hear the band in the Zoologi
cal Gardens. This, however, they die
after manner of their own. The,
had discovered that the music wa
equally effective (and shilling cheap
er) from the outside of the gardens, ant
as Tom justly remarked, they did no
want to be bothered with animals, 81
they promenaded up and down outside
the palings to the inspiring strains o
the martial music within.
The main topic of conversation, no
unnaturally, was Mr.. Morpeth's adver
tisement; and the young people anus
ed themselves by discussing hypothet.
ically what use they would make oil
the reward, supposing they were lucky
enough to find the missing deed. Va
rious plans were suggested, but it was
finally decided that Bessie should sci
up tobacconist's and stationery busi-
ness, in aid of Toms legal earnings.
AT first Tom was rather inclined to
take the tobacconist's portion of the
business himself, as he had an idea that
he could serve cigars and vesuvians
with considerable artistic finish; but
this was overruled by Bessie, who
would not hear of his giving up his
profession" That idea was therefore
abandoned, Tom justly remarking that,
as he wasn't at all likely to find the
deed, it really wasn't of very much
consequence. After somewhat lengthy
stroll the young people made their way
back to Chancery Lane, Tom purchasing
tribuiion to Mrs. Moyse's ref'reshment
arrangements. They found the table
spread, pot of homemade jam and a
plate of water-cresses shedding lustre
on the festive board; the kettle boiling
on the hob; aud Mrs. Moyse bustling
about in the final preparations for tea
making. Uncle Keckwidgc sat, with
his hat on. III his accustomed place by
the fire.
On Mrs. Moyse first taking possess
ion, some years before, of the house
Keepers apartment in Bedford row,
Uncle kcckwidge complained of a
draughi, and had put on his hat as a
protection. AS the rest OF the family
did not perceive any draught, and
rashly ventnred to question its exist
ence, Uncle Keckwidge, who could nev-
er brook contradiction, became firmly
draught indeed, and had continued to
wear his hat indoors as well as out ever
since. He had never looked with a ia
vorablc eye on Tom Halliday, and had
occasionally occasioned Bessie consider
able embarrassment by utteriDg aloud
plivate reflections to his prejudice. On
the present occasion, the first greetings
were scarcely over when Uncle Keck-
widge, who had been eyeing Tom over
in q critical manner, remarked to HIM
self, but quite audiblv: "The idea of q
girl like onr Bess takin' up with such a
pair OF trousers a, that. Lor', believe
the women will have anything now-a-
lays" remark which caused Tom,
though not naturally bashful, to tuck
his legs hastily under the chair, and
Bessie 10 look very hot and uncomfort-
able. Mrs. Moyse making as much clat-
er as possible with the teacups, and
to make believe that no
body heard the observation, while I'm
lie Keck widge continued to munich his
bread and butter in profound uncon-
seriousness of having said anything at
Ill offensive.
"You mustn't take any notice Of I'M
lie, Tom," whispered Bessie. "You
snow what he is. It's only his fun.
He's always taking one off,
"Ile needn't take of my trousers,
hough," said Tom, and then finding
hat he had quite Internationally
made q kind of Joke, lie tried hard to
ook as if he had said it on purpose.
"Thomas," said Bessie pretending to
DC dreadfully shocked, "Thomas, | am
perfectly ashamed of you. 1t would
serve you right not to let you have any
,hrimps."
''Forgive me this once" said Tom
I'll never do so any more. | wonder
the old buffer would like a
shrimp. Try monster of the deep,
Mr.. Keckwidge," he continued, putting
4 spoonful on the old mans plate.
i'And shouldn't break my heart if one
Of 'em got crossways and choked YOU,
you old image.r he added, in lower
one.
"For shame, sir.' cried Bessie; "a
poor, harmless old man like that, and
you want to choke him!'
"Why couldn't he leave my trousers
alone, then!" said Tom, still by no
means paciticd.
Here Uncle Keckwidge, who had
been looking about uneasily, pulled
large black pin out of his necktie, and
commenced digging at shrimp, though
without satisfactory result.
"No, UNCLE" said Mrs. Moyse, taking
The pin away from him; mot like that.
You're thinking of wrinkles; these are
shrimps," (We are grieved to confess
that the good lady pronounced the word
as "s'rimps."D
"Ihen what did he say they were
Wrinkles for?' said Uncle Keckwidge,
much aggrieved.
81 didn't" said Tom, Indignantly.
II never said anything of the sort"
"Young man." replied Uncle Keck-
widgc, with dignity, "you said distinct
ly wrinkles; | noticed it particularly.
am very partial to Wrinkles, but
shrimps amt no account"
"Come, UNCLE" said Bessie, "you
know the last time Tom brought win
kles you said you preferred shrimps." /"
"We amt had winkles," resumed the
old man, quite ignoring his niece's re-
mark, "not since that day when we
found the ear-wig in my Sunday hat.
And then they was in pie"
"No, no, uncle" said Mrs. Moyse,
laughing, "that wasn't wrinkles; that
was cells"
81 dunno about that" said Uncle
keckwidge, thoughtfully; "but ] know
yon pick them out with pin. With a
min ~ he rpneata1 at infarvals liLa nm