194 EXPRESSION IN MUSIC. 



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in the tap-room, and, lifting his head, called for a pint of ale and 

 a pipe. He glewed his lips to the tankard, nor did he move his 

 eyes from the foam until he saw the reflection of his nose, like a 

 piece of red sealing wax, sticking at the bottom. He looked up 

 and, fetching a long sigh, muttered " good," and, as the landlady 

 turned round, she was startled by the appearance of two eyes that 

 squinted so forcibly that they seemed to be always at cross pur- 

 poses. Suddenly the stranger, (of course in black), made several 

 inquiries as to the persons inhabiting the town of JMarket Mow- 

 bray ; and having satisfied his curiosity he bowed politely to the 

 landlady, called the maid, and requested, being tired, that he might 

 " go upon tick." Are the sheets well aired ? 



The amiable reader must suppose a month at least to have 

 elapsed since the arrival of the illustrious stranger at the Crown 

 and Sausage and the period when he again appears, as a professor 

 of music, in the sweet-smelling town of Market Mowbray. The 

 imaginative reader must behold the celebrated Mr. Peregrine 

 Peascod (for by that name was the professor distinguished) domi- 

 ciled over the large bow-windowed shop of Mrs. Percy Peach, a 

 very comfortable woman in her way, and who would never ding 

 down her head to the best of them ; " and why should she ?" said 

 the seductive Professor Peascod. Peregrine was a wise man, a 

 second Talleyrand ; he read at first sight the great characteristic of 

 the Market Mowbrayians ; and whatever they might say against 

 pride, yet, from Miss Martha Tibbs down to the chambermaid of 

 the Crown and Sausage, there was but one spirit — " Marry, come 



up r 



On the 15th of June, 18 — , he paid his first visit to the charming 

 Miss Martha Tibbs ; he spoke of the weather, of the town, of the 

 high, of the low, of Miss Tibbs. " I see you play." Miss Tibbs 

 blushed till her eyes watered ; he opened the piano, struck five oc- 

 taves, and pronounced the instrument superb. Miss Tibbs was over- 

 reached, it was her soft part ; she smiled, and, seating herself, played 

 the overture to the " Three Crows." " Beautiful, most beautiful !" 

 sighed Peregrine ; " what expression ! ' it is the cause, it is the 

 cause !' what an effect !" Happy Miss Tibbs, and happier Peregrine ! 

 He awoke and found himself famous next morning, just as he heard 

 the fair form of Mrs. Percy Peach turn in the tell-tale bed. From 

 that day Peregrine was happy ; his fortune rose with his cele- 

 brity ; he was a great and, therefore, a grateful man : and, to ac- 

 knowledge the favours of his patroness, he proposed a concert at the 

 house of Miss Martha Tibbs, which should for ever immortalize 

 her memorv. 



