A DINNER AT POPLAB WALK. 619 



a most capital place beautiful ! I'll trouble you for another cup of 

 tea. Let 's see what was I saying ? Oh ! I know. Such a beauti- 

 ful place ! When I first saw it, by Jove ! it looked so knowing, with 

 the front garden like, and the green railings, and the brass knocker, 

 and all that I really thought it was a cut above me." 



" Don't you think you'd like the ham better," interrupted Minns, 

 " if you cut it the other way ?" as he saw, with feelings which it is 

 impossible to describe, that his visitor was cutting, or rather maiming, 

 the ham, in utter violation of all established rules. 



" No, thank ye," returned Bagshaw, with the most barbarous in- 

 difference to crime ; " I prefer it this way it eats short. But, I say, 

 Minns, when will you come down and see us ? You'll be delighted 

 with the place ; I know you will. Amelia and I were talking about 



you the other night, and Amelia said another lump of sugar, 



please : thank ye she said, ' Don't you think you could contrive, 



my dear, to say to Mr. Minns, in a friendly way' Come down, 



Sir damn the dog ! He's spoiling your curtains, Minns Ha ! ha ! 

 ha!'' Minns leaped from his seat as though he had received the dis- 

 charge from a galvanic battery. 



" Come out, Sir ! go out, hoo !" cried poor Augustus, keeping, 

 nevertheless, at a very respectful distance from the dog, having read 

 of a case of hydrophobia in the paper of that morning. By dint of 

 great exertion, much shouting, and a marvellous deal of poking under 

 the tables with a stick and umbrella, the dog was at last dislodged, and 

 placed on the landing, outside the door, where he immediately com- 

 menced a most appalling howling ; at the same time vehemently 

 scratching the paint off the too-nicely varnished bottom pannels of the 

 door, until they resembled the interior of a backgammon-board. 



" A good dog for the country, that !" coolly observed Bagshaw to 

 to the distracted Minns, " he's not much used to confinement, 

 though. But now, Minns, when will you come down ? I'll take no 

 denial, positively. Let's see to-day's Thursday; will you come 

 on Sunday ? We dine at five. Don't say no do." After a grea,t 

 deal of pressing, Mr. Augustus Minns, driven to despair, and finding 

 that if the dog, remained in the house much longer, he, Mr. Augustus 

 Minns, might just as well lodge in the Zoological Gardens, accepted 

 the invitation, and promised to be at Poplar Walk on the ensuing 

 Sunday, at a quarter before five, to the minute. 



" Now, mind the direction," said Bagshaw : " the coach goes from 

 the Flower-pot, in Bishopsgate-street, every half hour. When the 

 coach stops at the Swan, you'll see, immediately opposite you, a white 



house " 



" Which is your house I understand," said Minns, wishing to cut 

 the story and the visit at the same time. 



" No, no, that's not mine ; that's Grogus's, the great ironmonger's. 

 I was going to say, you turn down by the side of the white house till 

 you can't go another step further mind that ; and then you turn to 

 your right, by some stables well ; close to you you'll see a wall with 

 ' BEWARE OF THE DOG,' written upon it in large letters [Minns 

 shuddered! go along by the side of that wall for about a quarter of 

 a mile, and anybody will show you which is my place." 



