tury,
and was old-fashioned even then. It was of a fine crimson cloth, and
had a tarnished line of lace about the edge and around the flaps of the
pockets. Over this glorious garment Joseph wore a sky-bine swallow-tail
coat of forgotten fashion, and below it a pair of knee-breeches which,
being much too long for him, were adjusted midway about his shrunken
calves. A pair of hob-nailed bluchers and a battered straw hat gave a
somewhat feeble finish to these magnificences. As the poor Joseph aired
the splendors of his attire there was a faint and far-away imitation of
the Earl of Barfield in his gait, and he paused at times after a fashion
his lordship had, and perked his head from side to side as if in casual
observation of the general well-being.

"Good-morning, Lord Barfield," cried Snac, as Joseph drew near. "It's a
sight for sore eyes to see your lordship a-lookin' so young and lusty."
Joseph beamed at this public crowning of his loftiest hopes, and would
have gone by with a mere nod of lordly recognition but the triumph was
too much for him and he laughed aloud for joy. "Well, bless my soul!"
said Snac, in feigned astonishment, "it's Mister Beaker. Send I may
live if I didn't tek him for the Right Honorable th' Earl o' Barfield!
Thee'st shake hands with an old friend, Mr. Beaker? That's right.
Theer's nothin' I admire so much as to see a man as refuses to be
carried away with pride." Joseph shook hands almost with enthusiasm.

"Theer's nothin' o' that sort about me, Mr. Eld," he replied.

"That I'm sure on," said Snac, with conviction. "But how gay we be
to-day, Mr. Beaker."

"It was my lord as gi'en me these," said Joseph, retiring a pace or two
to display his raiment, and gravely turning round in the presence of the
little crowd that surrounded him so that each might see the fulness of
its beauty.

At this moment Reuben Gold came swinging along the road with a green
baize bag under his arm. He was on his way to his uncle's house, and,
unobserved of Snac, took a place on the causeway to see what might be
the reason of this unusual gathering.

"Now," said Snac, "I never thought as Lord Barfield 'ud be so mean as
to do things in that half-an'-half manner. I should ha' fancied, if
Lord Barfield had took it into his head to set up an extra gentleman in
livery, he'd ha' done it thorough."

Joseph's countenance fell, and he surveyed his own arms and legs with
an air of criticism. Then he took hold of the gold-lac