78 RANGE OF APPRENTICESHIP. 



make a room full of goods ^ "Ha, ha! very good, '^ 1 replied, 

 "as witty as ever." After a little dandling of baby (who, 

 though a fine child for ten months, was not quite of my stature) 

 and a few minutes of surprize and talk, I left the good three with 

 '^ hearty good wishes," and sallied forth for another gossip with 

 the Lady of the Lane. 



My agreeable surprise on the first visit ought to have prepared 

 me for any change on another; but there was either not time or 

 not inclination for reasonable reflection. 1 was, as a poor woman 

 told me, "just the same as ever" — free from melancholy, "fore- 

 right" and buoyant as youth, and therefore more disposed to hear 

 a laugh than attend a lecture. Reaching Mrs. Provolvus' door, 

 in I walked, sans ccremonie, singing 



" Mrs. Waddle was a widow, 

 And she had no little gain." 



and should have proceeded with another stave, had I not been 

 stopped by a ruddy-face lass of about 17 or 18, who abruptly 

 asked, if 1 had not either " made a mistake, or taken leave of my 

 senses ?'' "Neither." said I, "Your perception may be more 

 acute than mine; but I will tell you. Miss i'ert, the object of 

 my visit, and tliat, I doubt not, will offer to you, at least, a timely 

 and sufficient check;" for I anticipated the masculine reproof of 

 Mrs. Provolvus the moment my name was mentioned. " Where," 

 said I, " is Mrs. Provolvus ? " " If it be mother," said the girl, 

 " I will call her, but," continued she in a stifled mutter, " I am 

 sure mother knows nothing of you." "Your mother, hussy!" 

 said I, "Your mother? why Mrs. Provolvus never had a 

 daughter ; and if such a pert thing as you had been her lot, it 

 must have broken her heart, strong as it was ! " " Mother ! " 

 bawled out the maiden, " do come down, here *s a madman or 

 one most mad, which is about as bad." Looking around, 1 

 noticed a something different from former days, so ftmcying I had 

 mistaken the house, I popped outside, scanned the elevation of 

 the low building, scrutinized the windows, descending door-way, 

 and really saw the old sign, notorious for many a laugh it* occa- 

 sioned me by having almost as many commas as words. "AlPs 

 right," said I, and on quick re-entry I was met by a buxom, 

 middle-aged woman, who, somewhat more politely than her 

 daughter, asked me my business. "Just popped in"— said I, 

 " to see my old friend Mrs. Provolvus."—" Sir," inquired she. 

 ^^ Madam," I retorted — chagrined, it is true, but not susceptible 

 of mistake; for the house was as familiar to nie as my actual 



