fCf" TO RICHMOND. 425 



a fling at its black tenantry. Up went stone the first down it came 

 with a rebound over a low wall, and a crash followed, as if a hundred 

 hot-house panes were shivered : at the same moment a head and red 

 night-cap popped up from the other side, surveyed us in silence, and 

 disappeared. " Now, for heaven's sake/' said I, " don't destroy people's 

 property in mere wantonness!" " Pooh!" said Jones, " I sha'n't hit 

 'em again, if I try !" and up went stone the second, and fell as before, 

 with the same awful clatter and crash. " That makes five shillings !" 

 said the head and night-cap, popping up again. " Nonsense," said 

 Jones, " it was an accident !" " Well, gentlemen," said the head and 

 night-cap, " you sha'n't go till you do pay, for I've grabbed your oars." 

 " Oh, pay the man," we all advised. " Here, then, you night-capped 

 numskull," said Jones, flinging a sovereign up the wall with a muni- 

 ficent air, " give me my change !" " Break four more, and that's a 

 pound's- worth ;" and down went the head and night-cap. How. that 

 Smith did chuckle ! " Well, then, I'll have some fun for my money," 

 said Jones : " here goes ;" and up flew stone after stone, but not one of 

 them told, for the wary gardner, we supposed, had covered over the 

 remainder of his glass with matting. And now we had the laugh 

 fairly against Jones he was matched. He pretended, however, to 

 admire the fellow's cunning, and tried to laugh too, but 'twas " with a 

 difference." <e I never saw you look so foolish, Jones," said Smith. 

 This was quite enough j Jones turned quite* pale with rage, and instantly 

 walked down to the boat, Miss Simpson following him. Then up 



spoke Tomlins ; " Let him go, and be " " Wiser," I interposed, 



" when his pride is subdued to reason by reflection." 



This incident cast a damp on the delights of the day ; and the ladies 

 looked, and were, very uncomfortable ; but we gallantly redoubled our 

 attentions, and smoothed the raven down of their displeasure till they 

 smiled, as some one, I think, has somewhere said. To show our 

 philosophy, we sat down again to the sherry ; and Smith, perfectly to 

 restore harmony, gave us a song which he assured us was written by 

 the footman of a person of quality, and addressed to a hard-hearted 

 housekeeper who had jilted him. Smith introduced it as a genuine 

 specimen of the cupboard-love school of poetry. 



When first my Sally Jones I knew, 



I thought her face was pretty. 

 I liked her eyes of Saxon blue, 



Her locks so raven-jetty, 

 Her teeth, her lips, her hips and waist, 



Her nose that did not look awry, 

 I loved her arms and charms so chaste, 



But I adored her cookery ; 



And laid my person at her feet 



(She'd put to bed the children) ; 

 She smiled consent with looks so sweet, 



Oh, Love ! 'twas quite bewildering ! 

 She did not say she would be mine 



I thought so naturally ; 

 She ask'd me, though, to stop and dine 



(The Colonel was at Calais) : 



