um and milk?"

Mr. Bumpkin remembered it.

"Well, I believe that rum and milk was the luckiest investment you ever
made. Hallo! there's the bell--hush, _mither woy_!"

"Dang thee!" said Bumpkin, "thee's got un;" and he followed the youthful
clerk into Mr. Prigg's room.

There sat that distinguished lawyer with his respectable head, in his
easy chair, much worn, both himself and the chair, by constant use.
There sat the good creature ready to offer himself up on the altar of
Benevolence for the good of the first comer. His collar was still
unruffled, so was his temper, notwithstanding the severe strain of the
county families. There was his clear complexion indicating the continued
health resulting from a well-spent life. His almost angelic features
were beautiful rather in the amiability of their expression than in their
loveliness of form. Anyone looking at him for the first time must
exclaim, "Dear me, what a _nice_ man!"

"Well, Mr. Bumpkin," said he, extending his left hand lazily as though it
were the last effort of exhausted humanity, "how are we now?"--always
identifying himself with Bumpkin, as though he should say "We are in the
same boat, brother; come what may, we sink or swim together--how are we
now?"

"Bean't wery well," answered Mr. Bumpkin, "I can tell 'ee."

"What's the matter? dear me, why, what's the matter? We must be cool,
you know. Nothing like coolness, if we are to win our battle."

"Lookee 'ere," said Bumpkin; "lookee 'ere, sir; I bin here dordlin' about
off an' on six weeks, and this 'ere dam trial--"

"Sh--sh!" remonstrated Mr. Prigg with the softest voice, and just lifting
his left hand on a level with his forehead. "Let us learn resignation,
good Mr. Bumpkin. Let us learn it at the feet of disappointment and
losses and crosses."

"Yes, yes," said Bumpkin; "but thic larnin' be spensive, I be payin' for
it."

"Mr. Bumpkin," said the good man sternly, "the dispensations of
Providence are not to be denounced in this way. You are a man, Bumpkin;
let us act, then, the man's part. You see these boxes, these names: they
represent men who have gone through the furnace; let us be patient."

"But I be sick on it. I wish I'd never know'd what law wur."

"Ah, sir, most of us would like to exist in that state of wild and
uncultured freedom which only savages and beasts are permitted to enjoy;
but life has higher aims, Mr. Bumpkin; grander pursuits; more sublime
duties."

"Well