664 THE LOVE-CHILD. 



Before nightfall I reached Caddiscombe, and ventured into the 

 market-place, where the fair was about to be held. It was a cattle as 

 well as what is called a pleasure fair. All was bustle, and every 

 body seemed big with preparation for the next morning. I wan- 

 dered to and fro, half stupified by the uproar, for several hours, 

 without seeing Lavolta. About two o'clock in the morning the 

 hurly-burly had considerably decreased the sheep and swine were 

 penned the horned cattle tethered, and it behoved me to look 

 out for a bed. Crawling into the group of cattle, I at length found 

 a recumbent cow tied to a post, whose large belly and bursting udder 

 offered peculiar attractions. I scratched the poor creature's head 

 rubbed her painful dugs, which the calf, muzzled and tied to one 

 of her horns, had not sucked for at least two meals, and having suf- 

 ficently ingratiated myself, ventured to lie down and take one of the 

 teats in my mouth. When I had sucked my fill, all around me 

 being tolerably quiet, I untethered the calf, slipped off his muzzle, 

 and let him have a bellyful ; then, curling myself up on the cow's 

 warm paunch, I composed myself to sleep. Towards morning my 

 slumbers were dreadfully interrupted by vehement hammering, and 

 when I thought proper to open my eyes, right opposite me, where 

 the night before a number of bare poles had slightly intercepted the 

 moonbeams, I perceived a superb erection, in front of which, about 

 ten o'clock, I experienced the felicity of seeing Lavolta. 



He was clad from top to toe in velvet, and silk, and spangles the 

 most splendid personage I had ever beheld. Squire Patch was a 

 cow-boy to him. But I should never have detected him but for the 

 large blue wen, which he called a mole, under his left ear. The 

 moment I recognized this, I dashed up the steps. My costume and 

 boldness produced a burst of merriment from the spectators, and La- 

 volta tickled me down with a tandem whip, which he wielded with 

 extraordinary grace and emphasis. It was clear that he did not re- 

 collect me. To make myself known to him, I threw myself on my 

 hands, and with legs aloft, proceeded to mount the steps. As soon 

 as I came within his reach he gave me two or three encouraging taps 

 with the crop of his whip, and when I reached the stage on which he 

 stood, he took me by the shoulder, and led me kindly to the entrance 

 of a dark narrow passage, down which he desired me to grope, and 

 consider myself a part of his establishment. 



May I go on ? 





