s prefer the pure liquid. As
for eating, sir,--anything you order, in reason."

Kenelm shook his head and was retreating, when the boy, who had sprung
from the gig and overheard the conversation, cried petulantly, "What
does it signify? Who wants fermented liquors? Water will do very well.
And as for dinner,--anything convenient. Please, ma'am, show us into a
private room: I am so tired." The last words were said in a caressing
manner, and so prettily, that the hostess at once changed her tone,
and muttering, "Poor boy!" and, in a still more subdued mutter, "What
a pretty face he has!" nodded, and led the way up a very clean
old-fashioned staircase.

"But the horse and gig, where are they to go?" said Kenelm, with a pang
of conscience on reflecting how ill treated hitherto had been both horse
and owner.

"Oh, as for the horse and gig, sir, you will find Jukes's livery-stables
a few yards farther down. We don't take in horses ourselves; our
customers seldom keep them: but you will find the best of accommodation
at Jukes's."

Kenelm conducted the cob to the livery-stables thus indicated, and
waited to see him walked about to cool, well rubbed down, and made
comfortable over half a peck of oats,--for Kenelm Chillingly was a
humane man to the brute creation,--and then, in a state of ravenous
appetite, returned to the Temperance Hotel, and was ushered into a small
drawing-room, with a small bit of carpet in the centre, six small chairs
with cane seats, prints on the walls descriptive of the various
effects of intoxicating liquors upon sundry specimens of mankind,--some
resembling ghosts, others fiends, and all with a general aspect of
beggary and perdition; contrasted by Happy-Family pictures,--smiling
wives, portly husbands, rosy infants, emblematic of the beatified
condition of members of the Temperance Society.

A table with a spotless cloth, and knives and forks for two, chiefly,
however, attracted Kenelm's attention.

The boy was standing by the window, seemingly gazing on a small aquarium
which was there placed, and contained the usual variety of small fishes,
reptiles, and insects, enjoying the pleasures of Temperance in its
native element, including, of course, an occasional meal upon each
other.

"What are they going to give us to eat?" inquired Kenelm. "It must be
ready by this time I should think."

Here he gave a brisk tug at the bell-pull. The boy advanced from
the window, and as he did so Kenelm was