Year: 1865

l


What with the heat and stAudinx about
I could scarcely keep my eyes open; and
| had net been seated . minute before ]
forgot all about the roses lat the back Of
my bonnet, aud resting my head % that
they must have nsqueezed int . pan.
cake. l dropped asleep a. sOHAd Rs .
roach, and woke up three minutes after
wards under the impression we we're ar
rived at Exeter. Nothing Of the sOrt-
] There les porter ut the window asking
to see our Tickets and SlOwman Was
slapping one pocket and then the other;
as if that would create them, and then at
last had to confess that he had handed
them over to Ke1iah to take care Of them.
OF course the money had to be paid again,
and the gentleman opposite with the
large whiSkers and watch chain, eyed
Slowman's purse quite rudely when he
took it out. For though it was but com.
mon leather bag, there was plenty of Ii.
ming to it, that is certain. Then, as they
make point Of doing, the porter must
needs open the door and slam it again
with all his might, bawling out AN right,
as if he would insult Us to the last;
whereby my dress got jAmmed, and the
next time l moved it tore q yard three
cornered rent. With q screach like my
grandmother used to give when she sung,
There was q old woman all skin and
bone (Which is always associated in my
mind With the smell Of hot punch and
the wind rumbling in the chimney the
engine dragged US sulkily out of the sta
tion, and OF course you may suppose we
were off at last.


Nothing Of the kind, bless your heart
They simply shuuted US on the middle
line, no better than SO many luggage
vans and there stuck simmering and
splitting Chat is the engine, you under
stand) till the clock had struck twelve,
the express train passed Indignantly up
before usl should have burst With
spite had not some one sensibly proposed
q game Of cards. CroQuet would have
been more genteel, but Eeziah was not with
US, and there would scarcely have been
room, l expect even five had the balls.
The'polite gentleman with the large whis-
kerS and watch. chain took deal of per.
suasion, unless, as he said, the ladies
would plny. II was ready at once but
after the first game which lost, felt so
sleepy could not 60 on, so be made up
a rubber Of whist with Slowman and two
others.


never woke until three o'clock, just
as the train reached Exeter. Everybody
was complaining Of the scandalous way
in which We had been detained on the
road, and Slowman was cursing and bi
ting his nails worse than any.


This cruntryman, who, l told him, had
no right in our carriage with third clas:
ticket, wanted to get at his bundle, but
would not bulge an inch, till he let OuI
; that it was u butt Of bees, and that ht
merely wished to see that they were safe.
Goodness gracious! wonder did no,
go out of tho window like JAck-in the
box. 'Lor, missus, you needn't sQueal
SO, said the man, Il give Il in tbe low
creatures own words; and upon my hon
or, | only exclaimed 'Genini SlowIDan /
and leapt up, creeping all over, as well
might) The polite gentleman with the
large Hhiskers and watch chain, caught
hold Of my dress for | dare say, he ex.
pected every instant to see me through
the window, and a coroner's inquest
sitting on ne; and one Of the 9TH
erS made me change places with him,
though it was but a moment before
we all got out at Exeter station, where
the crowd waS> so great, lost sight
of them ihstantAheOUsly, though looked
everywhere, to thank them for their po-
liteness; for l was determined to shame
SlowInan; who, verify believe. would
have seen me Stung to straw berry with.
out lifting finger, lie looked so glum.


Will you believe il! The Horticultu.
raj exhibition was closed; and just as we
reached the cattle yard, . violent tempest
came on, and we Eere drenched to the
skin, while the lightning was awful.


My dear Slowman,' said |, Il am al
ways affectiOnate in thunder storm)-
my dearest husband, let us 60 back


And back We went, as fast as our legs
could carry US, to pastry cooks in High
street, where We found our Keziah and
young Bullock in the long room behind
the shop, with lot of others, as merry
as gTigs around a table covered with
chops and steaks and sausage rolls, drink.
ing AlIsop's pale ale in long glasses, and
taking sixteen to the dozen. 1t was still
laundering, and had not the heart to
scold the girl, who, indeed, did seem
overjoyed to see US, and kissed me over
and over again. and whispered she had a
secret to tell me. Now, if have a weak
point. it is to hear O secret. believe If
were fighting a deadly duel with broad
swords, and my adversary whispered she
had a secret TO tell me, should throw
down my arms at once So smiled at
Keziah, and said there would be time
enough for that by .and-by. For one
should never listen to q secret directly
Waiting maks ones mouth water, wheth.
er it is for currants or kisses. And can
tell you it is much nicer to put a secret
off for while, like letter, which al
ways carry in my apron pocket for an
hour before opening.


Down sat and began to eat, fer l had
tasted nothing an day, and the beefsteaks
were done to q charm, and such baked po-
tatoes, for all the world like snowhalls in
curl papers. 4lowman had been out of
the room with that young Bullock, and
now came back looking more cheerful
than when he had legacy left him. /
was exasperated TO see him hand and
glove WITH that young fellow and I was
preparing to say something biting to the
young scamp, who looked as If butter
would not melt in his mouth, when we
oil know Arrowmore cheese would not
choke him, when all at once our Keziah
exclaimed


why, father, do you know you have
Mr.. BuHOck's purse stuck in your waist.
coat pocket .s


Snowman Immediately got as red as a
lobster


Yes, my dear he said, hesitating, and