it were the best conducted house in Westminster."

Now whether it was that the report of this domino playing was made in the
presence of so high a dignitary of the law as Mr. O'Rapley, or from any
other cause, I cannot say, but Mrs. Oldtimes was really indignant, and
positively refused to accept any statement which involved the character
of her establishment.

"I think," she continued, addressing Mr. O'Rapley, "you have known this
house for some time, sir."

"I have," said O'Rapley. "I have passed it every evening for the last
ten years."

"Ah now, to be sure--you hear that, Mr. Bumpkin. What do you think of
that?"

"Never saw anything wrong, I will say that."

"Never a game in my house, if I knows it; and what's more, I won't
believe it until I sees it."

"Ockelar demonstration, that's the law," said the Don.

Mr. Bumpkin's excitement was absolutely merged in that of the landlady,
whom he had so innocently provoked. He stared as the parties continued
their wordy justification of this well-ruled household like one dreaming
with his eyes open. No woman could have made more ado about her own
character than Mrs. Oldtimes did respecting that of her house. But then,
the one could be estimated in money, while the other possessed but an
abstract value.

"I believe," she repeated, "that cards or dominoes has never been played
in my house since here I've been, or since the law has been what it is."

"I be wery sorry," said the penitent Bumpkin; "I warn't aweare I wur
doing anythin' wrong."

"It's unlawful, you see, to play," said the Don; "and consequently they
dursn't play. Now, why is it unlawful? Because Public Houses is for
drinking, not for amusement. Now, sir, Drink is the largest tax-payer
we've got--therefore Drink's an important Industry. Set people to work
drinking and you get a good Rewenue, which keeps up the Army and
Navy--the Navy swims in liquor, sir--but let these here Perducers of the
Rewenue pause for the sake o' playing dominoes, or what not, and what's
the consequence? You check this important industry--therefore don't by
any manner of means interrupt drinking. It's an agreeable ockepation and
a paying one."

"Well done, sir," said Oldtimes, from the corner of the fireplace, where
he was doing his best with only one mouth and one constitution to keep up
the Army and Navy. A patriotic man was Oldtimes.

"Drink," continued O'Rapley, "is the most powerful horgsilery the
Government h