through with it at supper, it fries up next mornin' splendidly.--Come,
I'll let you taste a bit, an' that's a favour w'ich I wouldn't grant to
every one."

"No, thank 'ee, Pax. I'm already loaded and primed for the forenoon,
but I'll sit by you while you eat, and chat."

"You're welcome," returned Pax, "only don't be cheeky, Philip, as I
can't meet you on an equal footing w'en I'm at grub."

"I'll be careful, Pax; but don't call me Philip--call me Phil."

"I will, Phil; come along, Phil; `Come fill up my cup, come fill up my
can'--that sort o' thing you understand, Phil, me darlint?"

There was such a superhuman amount of knowing presumption in the look
and air of Pax, as he poked Phil in the ribs and winked, that the latter
burst into laughter, in which however he was not joined by his
companion, who with the goblet in one hand and the other thrust into his
pocket, stood regarding his new friend with a pitiful expression till he
recovered, and then led him off to a confabulation which deepened their
mutual esteem.

That same evening a gentleman called at the Post-Office, desiring to see
Philip Maylands. It turned out to be George Aspel.

"Why, George, what brings you here?" said Phil in surprise.

"I chanced to be in the neighbourhood," answered Aspel, "and came to ask
the address of that little creature who posted my letter the other
night. I want to see her. She does not go to your cousin's, I know,
till morning, and I must see her to-night, to make sure that she _did_
post the letter, for, d'you know, I've had no reply from Sir James, and
I can't rest until I ascertain whether my letter was posted. Can you
tell me where she lives, Phil?"

At that moment Phil was summoned for duty. Giving his friend the
address hastily, he left him.

George Aspel passed the front of the General Post-Office on his way to
visit Tottie Bones, and, observing a considerable bustle going on there,
he stopped to gaze, for George had an inquiring mind. Being fresh from
the country, his progress through the streets of London, as may be well
understood, was slow. It was also harassing to himself and the public,
for when not actually standing entranced in front of shop-windows his
irresistible tendency to look in while walking resulted in many
collisions and numerous apologies. At the General Post-Office he
avoided the stream of human beings by getting under the lee of one of
the pillars of the colonnade, whence he could loo