it for a Bible.'

'Well,' said the man, 'did she ever get her Bible?'

'Yes,' said I, 'she got her Bible.'

'Then she has no cause to complain; and, as for you, chance or something
else has sent you to me, that I may make you reasonable amends for any
loss you may have had. Here am I ready to make you my bonnet, with forty
or fifty shillings a week, which you say yourself are capital wages.'

'I find no fault with the wages,' said I, 'but I don't like the employ.'

'Not like bonneting,' said the man; 'ah, I see, you would like to be
principal; well, a time may come--those long white fingers of yours would
just serve for the business.'

'Is it a difficult one?' I demanded.

'Why, it is not very easy: two things are needful--natural talent, and
constant practice; but I'll show you a point or two connected with the
game'; and, placing his table between his knees as he sat over the side
of the pit, he produced three thimbles, and a small brown pellet,
something resembling a pea. He moved the thimble and pellet about, now
placing it to all appearance under one, and now under another; 'Under
which is it now?' he said at last. 'Under that,' said I, pointing to the
lowermost of the thimbles, which, as they stood, formed a kind of
triangle. 'No,' said he, 'it is not, but lift it up'; and, when I lifted
up the thimble, the pellet, in truth, was not under it. 'It was under
none of them,' said he, 'it was pressed by my little finger against my
palm'; and then he showed me how he did the trick, and asked me if the
game was not a funny one; and, on my answering in the affirmative, he
said, 'I am glad you like it; come along and let us win some money.'

Thereupon, getting up, he placed the table before him, and was moving
away; observing, however, that I did not stir, he asked me what I was
staying for. 'Merely for my own pleasure,' said I; 'I like sitting here
very well.' 'Then you won't close?' said the man. 'By no means,' I
replied; 'your proposal does not suit me.' 'You may be principal in
time,' said the man. 'That makes no difference,' said I; and, sitting
with my legs over the pit, I forthwith began to decline an Armenian noun.
'That ain't cant,' said the man; 'no, nor gypsy either. Well, if you
won't close, another will, I can't lose any more time,' and forthwith he
departed.

And after I had declined four Armenian nouns, of different declensions, I
rose from the side of the pit, and wandered about amongst