a
Queen's man--I be in the Queen's sarvice."

"A pooty Queen's man thee be, surely. Why look at thic hair all down
over thy face, and thee be as red as a poppy."

Now I perceived that although neither master nor man was in such a state
as could be described as "intoxicated," yet both were in that
semi-beatific condition which may be called sentimental.

"Lookee 'ere, maister," continued Joe.

"And lookee here," said Mr. Bumpkin, "didn't I come out to thee two or
three times, and call thee out and tell 'ee to tak' heed to thic soger
feller, for he wur up to no good? Did I Joe, or did I not?"

"Thee did, maister."

"Well, an' now look where thee be; he've regler took thee in, thee silly
fool."

"No, he beant; for he wouldn't 'ave I at fust, and told I to goo and ax
my mither. No ses I, I'll goo to the divil afore I be gwine to ax
mither. I beant a child, I ses."

"But thee's fond o' thy poor old mither, Joe; I knows thee be, and sends
her a shillin' a week out o' thy wages; don't thee, Joe?"

This was an awkward thrust, and pricked the lad in his most sensitive
part. His under-lip drooped, his mouth twitched, and his eyes glistened.
He was silent.

"Where'll thy poor old mither get a shilling a week from noo, Joe?
That's what I wants to know."

Joe drew his sleeve over his face, but bore up bravely withal. _He_
wasn't going to cry, not he.

"Thee beest a silly feller to leave a good ooame and nine shillin' a week
to goo a sogerin; and when thee was out o' work, there were allays a
place for thee, Joe, at the fireside: now, warnt there, Joe?"

"Lookee 'ere, maister, I be for betterin' myself."

"Betterin' thyself? who put that into thy silly pate? thic sergeant, I
bleeve."

"So ur did; not by anything ur said, but to see un wi beef steaks and
ingons for supper, while I doan't 'ave a mouthful o' mate once a week,
and work like a oarse."

"Poor silly feller--O dear, dear! whatever wool I tell Nancy and thy poor
mither. What redgimen be thee in, Joe?"

"Hooroars!"

"Hooroars! hoo-devils!" and I perceived that Mr. Bumpkin's eyes began to
glisten as he more and more realized the fact that Joe was no more to
him--"thee manest the oosors, thee silly feller; a pooty oosor thee'll
make!"

"I tellee what," said Joe, whose pride was now touched, "Maister Sergeant
said I wur the finest made chap he ever see."

"That's ow ur gulled thee, Joe."

"Noa didn't; I went o' my own free will. No man should