City Sketches. 463 



" Money in that quarter, I fancy ; isn't there ?" enquired Larkins. 

 " Why, yea a little," replied the other. 

 " Ah ! I wish you may get it," said Larkins. 



Eh r 



" I wish you may get* it, I say ; money is a scarce article very 

 scarce I find it so." 



" True very true," said Cobb, somewhat relieved. 



" Did you know the mother, eh?" enquired Larkins. 



" I had not the pleasure of knowing the mother." 



" She was a nice woman," said Larkins, " a very nice woman. 

 Strange you don't find children take after their parents, sometimes. 

 But tempers will vary. We are all frail creatures, Cobb. Pity you 

 didn't know when you were well off. Good morning ;" and, ere the 

 tobacconist could arrest nis retreating steps by speaking a word, the 

 i|ld gentleman had departed. 



Shortly after this conversation, leaving the shop to the care of his 

 assistant, Cobb retired to his parlour. Here was a terrible confirma- 

 tion of the substance of Chitterling's heedless chat of the morning ! 

 Cobb loved money to be sure ; but life was precious also, and to be 

 saddled with, and bridled by, a second Martha Murgatroyd ! But 

 stop ! After all, what was there in the water-rate incident? It served 

 the fellows right. Were they to dispute the evidence of her father's 

 books? It was an instance of filial affection. He didn't like a woman 

 without spirit. It was requisite sometimes. And then what did 

 Larkins mean? He was known to be one of the most calumniating 

 old vagabonds in the parish. Oh ! nothing could be more certain ; 

 the woman had been much wronged shamefully so shamefully. 



His mind misgave him mightily, nevertheless, and in spite of those 

 buttresses which he had suddenly raised for its support, when he went 

 forth a second time to fix and to decide upon what is commonly 

 termed the happy day. But he had not proceeded far only to the 

 corner of the street, when he chanced to run against a lady in a 

 bonnet like an inverted black japanned coal-scuttle. It was Mrs. 

 Draper ! 



"Ah! Mr. Cobb, is that you?" said the lady. "What d'ye think 

 I heard just now? That you were going to be married to Griskin's 

 girl. It can't be true ?" 



"My dear Madam," cried Cobb, "I'm in a great hurry, pray 

 don't detain me now particular business " 



" Well, good bye. But, mind, I never believed it. Why, don't 

 you remember young Mangles?" 



" Mangles ! Mangles ! no, I can't say I do remember young 

 Mangles," said Cobb almost savagely. 



" Don't you remember he was going to be married to her ten 

 years ago?" 



"To her? to whom? Miss Griskin?" 



" Sure," said Mrs. Draper, " Lord ! you must recollect it. Why 

 the match was broken off. He wouldn't have her; a violent 

 temper, you know." 



" Violent temper !" said Cobb, vaguely. 



" Bless you shocking. It's past all bearing. But I won't keep you 



