stice demanded my interference between it and one of the
biggest scamps in the world. So, without waiting to be announced by
the servant, I opened the door, and joined the group on the veranda.

If I expected to touch the conscience of my friend, the Tramp, by a
dramatic entrance, I failed utterly; for no sooner did he see me, than
he instantly gave vent to a howl of delight, and, falling on his knees
before me, grasped my hand, and turned oratorically to the ladies.

"Oh, but it's himself--himself that has come as a witness to me
carrakther! Oh, but it's himself that lifted me four wakes ago, when I
was lyin' with a mortal wakeness on the say-coast, and tuk me to his
house. Oh, but it's himself that shupported me over the faldes, and
whin the chills and faver came on me and I shivered wid the cold, it
was himself, God bless him, as sthripped the coat off his back, and giv
it me, sayin', 'Take it, Dinnis, it's shtarved with the cowld say air
ye'll be entoirely.' Ah, but look at him--will ye, miss! Look at his
swate, modist face--a blushin' like your own, miss. Ah! look at him,
will ye? He'll be denyin' of it in a minit--may the blessin' uv God
folly him. Look at him, miss! Ah, but it's a swate pair ye'd make!
(the rascal knew I was a married man). Ah, miss, if you could see him
wroightin' day and night with such an illigant hand of his own--(he had
evidently believed from the gossip of my servants that I was a
professor of chirography)--if ye could see him, miss, as I have, ye'd
be proud of him."

He stopped out of breath. I was so completely astounded I could say
nothing: the tremendous indictment I had framed to utter as I opened
the door vanished completely. And as the Most Beautiful Eyes in the
Wurruld turned gratefully to mine--well--

I still retained enough principle to ask the ladies to withdraw, while
I would take upon myself the duty of examining into the case of my
friend, the Tramp, and giving him such relief as was required. (I did
not know until afterward, however, that the rascal had already
despoiled their scant purses of three dollars and fifty cents.) When
the door was closed upon them I turned upon him.

"You infernal rascal!"

"Ah, Captain, and would ye be refusin' ME a carrakther and me givin' YE
such a one as Oi did! God save us! but if ye'd hav' seen the luk that
the purty one give ye. Well, before the chills and faver bruk me
spirits entirely, when I was a young man, and maki