ich was covered with a tight-fitting
tarpaulin; while at the back a square little house, painted uniformly a
sober green, and protected by a sloping roof of brown-coloured wood-
work, and lighted by two little windows, served as parlour, bedroom, and
kitchen to Ruby and his wife.

Mrs Gregson, or Sally Grigg as she was usually styled, was not a
noticeable person, keeping out of the way as much as possible; and
devoting her time and energies to seeing to the due feeding of her
husband, his horse and dog, and herself--these forming the entire
family, for they had no children--and also to taking care of, and
tidying up from time to time, the very miscellaneous wares which were
offered for sale in the caravan.

Ruby's affections seemed pretty equally divided between his horse, his
dog, and his wife--the two first having probably the best place in his
heart. The horse, like its owner, had no external beauty to boast of,
and must have numbered many years since the days of its foalhood. There
was something rather knowing about its appearance, as though it had
contracted a measure of cunning from constant companionship with its
master. The dog, whose name was Grip, was one of those nondescript
animals which seem to have inherited a mixture of half-a-dozen different
breeds, and had a temper as uncertain as its pedigree. While
journeying, his place was beneath the caravan, to which he was attached
by a light chain, in which position he was a terror to all who might
venture near the caravan without his master's company or permission.
When the little party rested for a day or so, Grip had his liberty;
which he occasionally abused by appropriating to himself the meals
intended for his fellow-dogs, none of whom, however superior to him in
size or strength, durst for a moment resist him.

Such were the old man and his establishment. His business was that of a
miscellaneous salesman, the difficulty being rather to say what he did
not than what he did offer to his various customers. The front part of
his van was hung with all sorts of hardware, inside and out; but,
besides this, there were, within, secret drawers and cupboards
containing articles which would not bear exhibition to the public--such
as smuggled goods, both wearable and drinkable, which Ruby knew how to
procure at a very low price, and could always part with confidentially
for a sum which both suited the pockets of the purchasers, and also
brought considerable pro