lars, 's unparliamentary? Can't be allowed.
Now, right about!'
This address, accompanied by a commanding elevation of the dexter hand,
seemed to excite Mr. Raikes far more than Old Tom. He alighted from his
perch in haste, and was running up to the stalwart figure, crying,
'Fellow!' when, as you tell a dog to lie down, Old Tom called out, 'Be
quiet, Sir!' and Raikes halted with prompt military obedience.
The sight of the curricle acting satellite to the donkey-cart staggered
the two footmen.
'Are you lords?' sang out Old Tom.
A burst of laughter from the friends of Mr. Raikes, in the curricle,
helped to make the powdered gentlemen aware of a sarcasm, and one with no
little dignity replied that they were not lords.
'Oh! Then come and hold my donkey.'
Great irresolution was displayed at the injunction, but having consulted
the face of Mr. Raikes, one fellow, evidently half overcome by what was
put upon him, with the steps of Adam into exile, descended to the gravel,
and laid his hand on the donkey's head.
'Hold hard!' cried Old Tom. 'Whisper in his ear. He'll know your
language.'
'May I have the felicity of assisting you to terra firma?' interposed Mr.
Raikes, with the bow of deferential familiarity.
'Done that once too often,' returned Old Tom, jumping out. 'There. What's
the fee? There's a crown for you that ain't afraid of a live donkey; and
there 's a sixpenny bit for you that are--to keep up your courage; and
when he's dead you shall have his skin--to shave by.'
'Excellent!' shouted Raikes.
'Thomas!' he addressed a footman, 'hand in my card. Mr. John Feversham
Raikes.'
'And tell my lady, Tom Cogglesby's come,' added the owner of that name.
We will follow Tom Cogglesby, as he chooses to be called.
Lady Jocelyn rose on his entering the library, and walking up to him,
encountered him with a kindly full face.
'So I see you at last, Tom?' she said, without releasing his hand; and
Old Tom mounted patches of red in his wrinkled cheeks, and blinked, and
betrayed a singular antiquated bashfulness, which ended, after a mumble
of 'Yes, there he was, and he hoped her ladyship was well,' by his
seeking refuge in a chair, where he sat hard, and fixed his attention on
the leg of a table.
'Well, Tom, do you find much change in me?' she was woman enough to
continue.
He was obliged to look up.
'Can't say I do, my lady.'
'Don't you see the grey hairs, Tom?'
'Better than a wig,' rejoined he
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