as."

"Ah!" said Mr. Bumpkin, not knowing what a horgsilery was; "now thee've
gone a-head o' me, sir. Thee're a larned man, Mr. O'Rapley, and I beant
much of a schollard; will thee please to tell I what a horgs--what wur
it?"

"Horgsilery," said Mr. O'Rapley.

"Horsgilly--ah! so twur. Well, by thy leave, worthy sir, will thee be so
kind as to tell I be it anything like a hogshead?"

"Well," said Mr. O'Rapley, "its more like a corkscrew: the taxes of the
country would be bottled up as tight as champagne and you couldn't get
'em out without this corkscrew."

"But I worn't spakin' about taxes when I spak of dominoes; what I wur
alludin' to wur thic Joe been drawed in to goo for a soger."

"Lor, bless you," said Mrs. Oldtimes, "many a man as good as Joe have
listed before now and will again."

"Mayhap," said Bumpkin; "but he wurn't my 'ead witness and didn't work
for I. Joe be my right hand man, although I keeps un down and tells un
he beant fit for nothin'."

"Ha," said the Don, "he's not likely to go for a soldier, I think, if
it's that good-looking young chap I saw with the kicking-straps on."

"Kickin'-straps," said Bumpkin; "haw! haw! haw! That be a good un. Well
he told I he wur up to un and I think ur be: he'll be a clever feller if
ur gets our Joe. Why Nancy ud goo amost out o' her mind. And now, sir,
will thee 'ave any moore?"

Mr. O'Rapley, in the most decisive but polite manner, refused. He had
quite gone out of his way as it was in the hope of serving Mr. Bumpkin.
He was sure that the thief would be convicted, and as he rose to depart
seized his friend's hand in the most affectionate manner. Anything he
could do for him he was sure he would do cheerfully, at any amount of
self-sacrifice--he would get up in the night to serve him.

"Thankee," said Bumpkin; but he had hardly spoken when he was startled by
the most uproarious cheers from the taproom. And then he began again
about the folly of young men getting into the company of recruiting
sergeants.

"Look here," said the Don, confidentially, "take my advice--say
nothing--a still tongue makes a wise head; to persuade a man not to enter
the army is tantamount to advising him to desert. If you don't mind, you
may lay yourself open to a prosecution."

"Zounds!" exclaimed Mr. Bumpkin, "it seem to me a man in Lunnon be every
minit liable to a prosecution for zummat. I hope sayin' that beant
contempt o' Coourt, sir."

Mr. O'Rapley was sile