ms to
fail. And for this life--perhaps if he had had a few more practical
proofs of a divine justice and government--that "kingdom of heaven"
of which Luke talks, in the sensible bodily matters which he does
appreciate, he might not be so unwilling to trust to it for the
invisible spiritual matters which he does not appreciate. At all
events, one has but one chance of winning him, and that is, through
those five senses which he has left. What if he does spend the
money in gross animal enjoyment? What will the amount of it be,
compared with the animal enjoyments which my station allows me daily
without reproach! A little more bacon--a little more beer--a little
more tobacco; at all events they will be more important to him than
a pair of new boots or an extra box of cigars to me.'--And Lancelot
put his hand in his pocket, and pulled out a sovereign. No doubt he
was a great goose; but if you can answer his arguments, reader, I
cannot.

'Look here--what are your night-lines worth?'

'A matter of seven shilling; ain't they now, Paul Tregarva?'

'I should suppose they are.'

'Then do you give me the lines, one and all, and there's a sovereign
for you.--No, I can't trust you with it all at once. I'll give it
to Tregarva, and he shall allow you four shillings a week as long as
it lasts, if you'll promise to keep off Squire Lavington's river.'

It was pathetic, and yet disgusting, to see the abject joy of the
poor creature. 'Well,' thought Lancelot, 'if he deserves to be
wretched, so do I--why, therefore, if we are one as bad as the
other, should I not make his wretchedness a little less for the time
being?'

'I waint come a-near the water. You trust me--I minds them as is
kind to me'--and a thought seemed suddenly to lighten up his dull
intelligence.

'I say, Paul, hark you here. I see that Bantam into D * * * t'other
day.'

'What! is he down already?'

'With a dog-cart; he and another of his pals; and I see 'em take out
a silk flue, I did. So, says I, you maunt be trying that ere along
o' the Whitford trout; they kepers is out o' nights so sure as the
moon.'

'You didn't know that. Lying again!'

'No, but I sayed it in course. I didn't want they a-robbing here;
so I think they worked mainly up Squire Vaurien's water.'

'I wish I'd caught them here,' quoth Tregarva, grimly enough;
'though I don't think they came, or I should have seen the track on
the banks.'

'Bu