e, for the crowd of passengers poured along and pushed this
way and that, so that the two friends were fairly driven to the fore part
of the boat, where they took their seats. It was quite a new world to
Mr. Bumpkin, and more like a dream than a reality. As he stared at the
different buildings he was too much amazed even to enquire what was this
or what was that. But when they passed under the Suspension Bridge, and
the chimney ducked her head and the smoke came out of the "stump," as Mr.
Bumpkin termed it, he thought she had struck and broken short off. Mr.
O'Rapley explained this phenomenon, as he did many others on their route;
and when they came to Cleopatra's Needle he gave such information as he
possessed concerning that ancient work. Mr. Bumpkin looked as though he
were not to be taken in.

"I be up to 'ee, sir," said he. "I s'pose that air thing the t'other
side were the needle-case?"

The O'Rapley informed him that it was a shot tower where they made shot.

Mr. Bumpkin laughed heartily at this; he was not to be taken in by any
manner of means; was far too sharp for that.

"And I spoase," said he, "they makes the guns--"

"In Gunnersbury," said Mr. O'Rapley; it was no use to be serious.

"I thought thee were gwine to say in a gun pit, but I don't mind thy
chaff, Master Rapley, and shall be mighty proud to see thee down at
Southood for a day's shoot-in': and mind thee bring some o' these ere
shot with thee that be made at yon tower, haw! haw! haw! Thee'll kill a
white-tailed crow then, I shouldn't wonder; thee knows a white-tailed
crow, doan't thee, Master Rapley, when thee sees un--and danged if I
doan't gie thee a quart bottle o' pigeon's milk to tak' wi' thee; haw!
haw! haw!"

The O'Rapley laughed heartily at these witty sallies, for Bumpkin was so
jolly, and took everything in such good part, that he could not but enjoy
his somewhat misplaced sarcasms.

"Now you've heard of Waterloo, I dare say," said Mr. O'Rapley.

"Yes, I've 'eeard tell on un, and furder, my grand-feather wur out
theer."

"Well, this that we are coming to is Waterloo Bridge."

"Yes," said Bumpkin, "it be a bridge, but it bean't Worterloo more 'an I
be my grandfearther--what de think o' that--haw! haw! haw!"

"Good," said O'Rapley; "that's quite right, but this is the bridge named
after the battle."

"Zo't be neamed artur un because it worn't named afore un, haw! haw! haw!
Good agin, Maister Rapley, thee got it."

Mr.