ry pale and quiet, Richard Trevor edged a little more towards his
companion; but this was only the signal for renewed insult, the
knifeboard being in possession of the fellow's friends.

"Where are you a-scrowging to?" said the fellow on Pratt's left.

And then, acting in concert, he and his companions forced the little
barrister closer to his friend.

"Here, let's speak to the driver," said Trevor, quietly; but there was a
dull red spot in each cheek.

"No, no!" said Pratt. "It's not much further; don't let us have a row."

"Mind your pockets, then," muttered Trevor.

"Ah, just as I thought," said the fellow who had been ringleader
throughout. "They're a talking about pockets--button up, gents."

Here followed a roar of laughter, and a few more witticisms of a similar
character were fired off. Then, seeing how patiently the two friends
bore it all, a fresh crowding was tried, and one of the most offensive
of the fellows called out to the man in velveteens--

"Why don't you leave off, Barney?"

"Tain't me," said Barney, grinning hugely; "it's these here two swell
mob blokes."

There was another roar of laughter, which culminated in a shriek of
delight when Barney of the black muzzle removed his pipe from his mouth,
and designedly spat upon Trevor's glossy boot.

The young man started as if he had been stung; but there was a quiet,
firm pressure of his arm, and he said, in French--

"Is it much further to the course?"

As he spoke, he quietly drew a white cambric handkerchief from his
pocket, carefully removed all trace of the disgusting offence from his
boot, and threw the handkerchief into the road, following it up by
lighting a fresh cigar.

"My! what a pity!" said the fellow, sneeringly, as he watched with
curiosity the young man's action. "I am sorry. Wouldn't you like the
handkerchief--again?"

And he pointed to a boy who had just picked it up from the road.

The pressure was again upon Trevor's arm, but he did not speak, and the
only movement was a slight twitching about the muscles of the face.

What more insult might have followed it is impossible to say, for the
omnibus now stopped at a gate, and the occupants began to scramble off.
Trevor rose, and waited for the gentleman called Barney to get down.
But he remained; so Trevor stepped over him, and Pratt was about to
follow, when the fellow thrust out his legs, and the young man tripped,
staggered, and would have fallen from the omnibus