a
stone bottle which I poured into a bottle of my own and then filled the
stone one up with water. I also took a meat bone and a beautiful pork pie.
Then I got a file from among Joe's tools, and with this and my other
plunder made my way with all dispatch along the river-side. Presently I
came upon what I supposed was the man I was searching for, for he too was
dressed in coarse gray and had a great iron on his leg, but his face was
different.

"It's the young man," I thought, feeling my heart beat fast at the idea.
He swore at me as I passed, and tried in a weak way to hit me, but then he
ran away and I continued my trip to the Battery, and there was the right
man in a ravenous condition. He was gobbling mincemeat, meat-bone, bread,
cheese, and pork pie all at once, when he turned suddenly and said:

"You're not a deceiving imp? You brought no one with you?" I answered no,
and he resumed his meal, snapping at the food as a dog would do. While he
was eating, I ventured to remark that I had met the young man he spoke of,
at which the man showed the greatest surprise, and became so violently
excited that I was very much afraid of him. I was also afraid of remaining
away from home any longer. I told him I must go, but he took no notice, so
I thought the best thing I could do was to slip off, which I did.

"And where the deuce ha' you been?" was Mrs. Joe's Christmas salutation.

I said I had been down to hear the carols. "Ah well," observed Mrs. Joe,
"you might ha' done worse," and then went on with her work as we were to
have company for dinner, and the feast was to be one that occasioned
extensive arrangements. My sister had too much to do to go to church, but
Joe and I went, arrayed in our Sunday best. When we reached home we found
the table laid, Mrs. Joe dressed and the front door unlocked--(it never
was at any other time) and everything most splendid. And still not a word
about the robbery. The company arrived; Mr. Wopsle, Mr. and Mrs. Hubble,
and Uncle Pumblechook, Joe's uncle, who lived in the nearest town and
drove his own chaise cart.

Dinner was a brilliant success, but so rich that Uncle Pumblechook was
entirely overcome, and was obliged to call for brandy. Oh heavens! he
would say it was weak, and I should be lost! I held tight to the leg of
the table and awaited my fate. The brandy was poured out and Uncle
Pumblechook drank it off. Instantly he sprang to his feet, turned round
several times in an appallin