A QUIET BYE 



at any of his usual haunts, was anything to be 

 heard of the boy. 



The fact was, he had been unable to resist a 

 ride at the back of a return chaise passing along 

 Juniper Street, and being caught by his apron in 

 the spikes, had been carried nearly to Copse Field 

 before he got himself disentangled. 



The oracle Gabriel having continued his moni- 

 tions, Mr. Jorrocks thought to make the absence 

 of the boy an excuse for not going, but now having 

 both Stobbs and Pigg ranged against him, he was 

 soon driven from the attempt. Pigg said * Squi-er 

 Stobbs wad de quite as weal as Ben,' and Jorrocks, 

 little loth at heart perhaps, at length hoisted him- 

 self on to Arterxerxes with a swag that would have 

 sent a light-carcassed horse over, letting the now 

 smartly-clad Pigg ride the redoubtable Xerxes. 

 So with Stobbs in front, Jorrocks with the hounds, 

 and Pigg behind, they set off at a gentle trot, 

 telling the inquirers that they were only going to 

 exercise, a delusion that Mr. Jorrocks's hat seemed 

 to favour. 



39 



