“How are you, old cock?”

“Who’s that, eh?”

“A lunatic, my lord (what lies men tell!), and dangerous!”

“Good day! [Exit my lord].  This way.”  We followed our uncle—­the end of a blind alley gave us a resting-place.

“Bravo!” exclaimed our uncle Bucket, “this is rare!  I live here—­dine with me!”

A mob surrounded us—­we acquiesced, in hopes to reach a place of shelter.

“All right!” exclaimed he of the maternal side, “stand three-halfpence for your feed.”

We shelled the necessary out—­he dived into a baker’s shop—­the mob increased—­he hailed us from the door.

“Thank God, this is your house, then.”

“Only my kitchen.  Lend a hand!”

A dish of steaming baked potatoes, surmounted by a fractional rib of consumptive beef, was deposited between the lemon-coloured receptacles of our thumbs and fingers—­an outcry was raised at the court’s end—­we were almost mad.

“Turn to the right—­three-pair back—­cut away while it’s warm, and make yourself at home!  I’ll come with the beer!”

We wished our I had been in that bier!  We rushed out—­the gravy basted our pants, and greased our hessians!  Lord Adolphus Nutmeg appeared at the entrance of the court.  As we proceeded to our announced destination,—­“Great God!” exclaimed his lordship, “the Bedlamite has bitten him!” A peal of laughter rang in our ears—­we rushed into the wrong room, and our uncle Job Bucket picked us, the shattered dish, the reeking potatoes, and dislodged beef, from the inmost recesses of a wicker-cradle, where, spite the thumps and entreaties of a distracted parent, we were all engaged in overlaying a couple of remarkably promising twins!  We can say no more on this frightful subject.  But—­

  “Once again we met!”

Our pride wanted cutting, and fate appeared determined to perform the operation with a jagged saw!

Tom Racket died!  His disease was infectious, and we had been the last person to call upon him, consequently we were mournful.  Thick-coming fancies brooded in our brain—­all things conspired against us; the day was damp and wretched—­the church-bells emulated each other in announcing the mortalities of earth’s bipeds—­each toll’d its tale of death.  We thought upon our “absent friend.”  A funeral approached.  We were still more gloomy.  Could it be his? if so, what were his thoughts?  Could ghosts but speak, what would he say?  The coffin was coeval with us—­sheets were rubicund compared to our cheeks.  A low deep voice sounded from its very bowels—­the words were addressed to us—­they were, “Take no notice; it’s the first time; it will soon be over!”

“Will it?” we groaned.

“Yes.  I’m glad you know me.  I’ll tell you more when I come back.”

“Gracious powers! do you expect to return?”

“Certainly!  We’ll have a screw together yet!  There’s room for us both in my place.  I’ll make you comfortable.”