in him I see, though he looks as if a dinner
would not come amiss to him--for he's as slim as a starved greyhound;"
then casting a comical glance at my clothes which were neat, good, and
new--he said, "Why boy, your belly ought to swear its life against your
back, for you are killing the one to cover the other." I blushed, but
still could not help laughing. "You are mistaken Whiteley," said the
other, "there is not a man in your company eats better than John."
"Where does he get it?" said W. "he cant have above half a guinea a week
for his salary, and the clothes now on his back must cost at least
twenty half guineas, or perhaps half a year's pay." "Go on Whiteley,"
said the other, "discharge all your Irish nonsense upon his head, he has
temper to bear it all; in the meantime I'll take a walk, and come back
again: but let me know what time you intend to be done, that I may be
ready to a minute; for in matters of business Whiteley, you know I like
to be punctual." W. understood this sarcasm, and turning to Mills,
poured forth such a volley of whim and oddity as I think never fell from
the lips of any other man in this world. When he was in this vein of
humour, he had, in addition to the comic cast of his countenance, a lisp
and a brogue which enhanced his drollery, and at every pause he drew in
his breath as if he were sipping out of a teaspoon. He began, "Now you
think yourself a very clever fellow after that oration, dont you! you
feel aisy I hope Mr. Mills, after throwing that wisp of bullrushes off
your stomach! have you made your speech, honey?" Mills laughed and bowed
submission. "Pull down your cap then, my dear, and be hanged." Then
turning to me, "Take care of yourself, boy, for if you mind what this
man says to you, you'll come to the gallows: you stand a chance of that
as it is, or I am very much out in my reckoning; but if you follow his
advice, you will be hanged as dead as Jack the painter, or my name's not
Jemmy Whiteley." "Never in my life before or since," continued H. "was I
so astonished, or so diverted. In the midst of all the ribaldry of his
mouth and the farce of his countenance, the benevolence of his heart
glistened in his eyes;--my nerves were convulsed with a twofold
sensation, and actually so enfeebled that, bursting into a fit of
laughter I, unbidden, sat down in a large arm chair that stood behind
me." "What's this his name is," said he to Mills: "Hodgkinson," replied
the other. "I thought tha