THE AUTHOR'S KENT-DAY. 689 



the old lady accosted nie in great haste, and in a deshabille that 

 would hardly have become one of her sex of less holy years, and tlod 

 me in manifest trepidation that her lodger above had been stirring all 

 night, and that from some words spoken to himself, but overheard by 

 her, she thought it was his intention to bolt, as she elegantly ex- 

 pressed it. 



" Eight weeks, Sir ; two pounds sixteen, besides four and three- 

 pence for postages, seven shillings for firing, and three-and-sixpence 

 for cleaning o' shoes ; altogether three-pun-ten and ninepence. As I'm 

 an honest 'oman," said Mrs. Jones, " I can't afford it, Sir I can't 

 indeed, Mister." 



" But," I said, f< yon have only to look sharp after the door." 



" Ah, but then them ere rumpuses, I can't abear 'em ; think o' the 

 other lodgers, Sir. There there he goes again I knows he's arter 

 suinmat. Just come up, Sir ; you know Sir," she added, in a coaxing 

 protection-seeking tone ': you know, Sir, there an't nobody as I can 

 ax assistance on but you.'' There was no resisting this appeal to my 

 chivalry, and so I followed my fair guide to the landing-place of the 

 fourth story, when she disposed me and herself so that we could 

 overhear a portion, at least, of what passed in the room occupied by 

 her defaulter. We had not long remained thus sentinelled, when we 

 heard the youth exclaim 



" Yes ! I must try my uncle !" 



" There's a villain !" cried Mrs. Jones, whom I could scarcely re- 

 strain " I knowed it he's going to pledge my property, he's got 

 none himself but an ink-bottle." I motioned her imperatively to be 

 silent, and he continued : 



" These sheets will surely bring me something ?" 



" A pair o' my best Russia the swindler !" observed Mrs. J. in 

 agony ; " only think o' that, Sir, I'll never give them chaps in the 

 garrets anything nor calico again." 



" But how to proceed," cried the lodger ; " the pillows have been 

 too often used they are common ; no, the blankets are the thing." 



" Real Whitney !" exclaimed my companion, horror-struck '* cost 

 me five-and- forty shillings last Midsummer was a twelvemonth, as 

 I'm a living 'oman ! " 



" And then I must manage the sacking !" continued the author. , 



" Lord Almighty ! " cried the old lady, " he's going to pledge 

 sacking and all." 



" If I should succeed," he continued, " it's three to one." 



<( Ah, three to one, indeed," said Mrs. Jones, " to me ; but we'll 

 take care he don't get 'em to that shop, howsumever." Here some 

 words, spoken in a lower tone, escaped us ; the next we heard was 



" But how to manage the escape! ay, the window the window 

 they can go through the window, and be received below, and so 

 borne off in safety." 



" Oh, the infernal robber!" groaned Mrs. Jones; " my Whitney 

 blankets and Russia sheets to be pitched out o' window, like so much 

 rubbishing books ; but I'll have all them 'ere garret windows nailed 

 down arter this." 



M. M. No. 96. 4 T 



