ver in the crystal, I should say he was under
Herschel; for you see, sir" (laying hold of Vance's button, as he saw
that gentleman turning to escape),--"you see Herschel, though he be a
sinister chap eno', specially in affairs connected with t' other sex,
disposes the native to dive into the mysteries of natur'. I'm a Herschel
man, out and outer; born in March, and--"

"As mad as its hares," muttered Vance, wrenching his button from the
Cobbler's grasp, and impatiently striding off. But he did not effect his
escape so easily, for, close at hand, just at the corner of the lane,
a female group, headed by Merle's gaunt housekeeper, had been silently
collecting from the moment the two friends had paused at the Cobbler's
door. And this petticoated divan suddenly closing round the painter,
one pulled him by the sleeve, another by the jacket, and a third, with
a nose upon which somebody had sat in early infancy, whispered, "Please,
sir, take my picter fust."

Vance stared aghast,--"Your picture, you drab!" Here another model of
rustic charms, who might have furnished an ideal for the fat scullion in
"Tristram Shandy," bobbing a courtesy put in her rival claim.

"Sir, if you don't objex to coming into the kitching after the family
has gone to bed, I don't care if I lets you make a minnytur of me for
two pounds."

"Miniature of you, porpoise!"

"Polly, sir, not Porpus,--ax pardon. I shall clean myself, and I have a
butyful new cap,--Honeytun, and--"

"Let the gentleman go, will you?" said a third; "I am surprised at ye,
Polly. The kitching, unbeknown! Sir, I'm in the nussery; yes, sir; and
Alissus says you may take me any time, purvided you'll take the
babby, in the back parlour; yes, sir, No. 5 in the High Street. Mrs.
Spratt,--yes, sir. Babby has had the small-pox; in case you're a married
gentleman with a family; quite safe there; yes, sir."

Vance could endure no more, and, forgetful of that gallantry which
should never desert the male sex, burst through the phalanx with an
anathema, blackening alike the beauty and the virtue of those on whom it
fell, that would have justified a cry of shame from every manly bosom,
and which at once changed into shrill wrath the supplicatory tones with
which he had been hitherto addressed. Down the street he hurried and
down the street followed the insulted fair. "Hiss--hiss--no gentleman,
no gentleman! Aha-skulk off--do--low blaggurd!" shrieked Polly. From
their counters shop-folks