484 THE THREE RAVENS. 



hedge, on which clean linen had been laid to bleach, a skittish foal 

 played his pranks like an emancipated washing-stool overjoyed at 

 the conclusion of its laborious duties. 



" Innocent beasts !" exclaimed Nonsuch, with emotion, (t how 

 happy ye appear ! and is there then no happiness for me ? Oh ! yes, 



yes " and as he strode over the stile and sprang into the road, 



another " yes" was jerked from his bosom " I will soon put this 

 little matterto rights." 



" Good evening, Mr. Stoat/ 7 said the linendraper, entering the 

 private office of the attorney, who appeared deeply engaged in letter- 

 writing. "What do you mean by this ?" and he handed him the 

 note; " 'twas an absurd joke indeed it was. Ha! ha! you'll get 

 no six-and-eightpence for this, Stoat no go, my old boy." 



<f You may call it an absurd joke, Mr. Nonsuch, if you please ; 

 but I am afraid you won't find it one," said the lawyer, solemnly ; 

 " but I would much rather be referred to your legal adviser : we can 

 settle the business much better between ourselves." 



" What do you mean ?" faltered Nonsuch. 



" We have the most incontestible evidence," resumed Stoat, " the 

 most conclusive evidence, that you have gone so far in your atten- 

 tions to Miss Raven, as to be unable to recede without rendering 

 ample compensation." 



"What do you mean?" reiterated Narcissus. "What do you 

 mean ?" and he sunk into a chair ; " oh ! tell me how is this ? 

 what is it ? how can it be ?" 



" The damages are laid at five thousand pounds," said the relent- 

 less lawyer ; " young men should be discreet, Mr. Nonsuch but 

 now I fear it is too late." 



There was an awful sincerity in the tones of Stoat, that fell like 

 conviction authenticated upon the ears of the linendraper. 



" Ha !" he exclaimed, with the vague vacancy of a lunatic ; " very 

 good ! Five thousand pounds ! ha ! ha ! but tell me " 



" You are not in a situation," interrupted Stoat, " to listen to rea- 

 son at the present moment. Who is your solicitor ?" 



" Ferret Ferret " said Nonsuch, waving his hand. " Ferret of 

 Street End." 



" We will consult together," cried Stoat, opening the door. " Good 

 evening, Mr. Nonsuch." 



" Good evening," said the other, and he departed with a mechani- 

 cal motion worthy of an automaton. 



A very different aspect did nature present to the linendraper, as 

 he sneaked over the paddock, which, but a few minutes ago, had 

 called forth the finer feelings of his nature. The cows were evidently 

 making grimaces in ridicule of his forlorn plight ; the two horses 

 stared at him intently, as though about to burst into horse-laughs ; 

 and the foal, as he approached, kicked up its long, straight hind-legs 

 with an air of unfeeling contempt. 



ft That foal is a fool," muttered Nonsuch, with bitter emphasis. 

 " But, oh ! what a conspiracy is now brought to maturity let me, 

 however, meet it like a man." 



