PINCH-ME-NEAR, FOREST 



Pigg off to the stable, Mr. Jorrocks took his 

 place at the table, and rated Batsey soundly for 

 encouraging a man of Pigg's ' unsteady 'abits.' 



Batsey justified herself on the score of pro- 

 moting her master's sport. ' Pigg,' she was ' sure 

 was nothin' to her.' She didn't want to be Mrs. 

 Pigg. Not she, indeed ! She could do better 

 than that any day, she 'oped! 'Pigg, forsooth!' 

 and she bounced about, and banged the butter 

 upon the muffins and toast, as if her feelings 

 were outraged in the extreme. How the dispute 

 might have ended is doubtful, for in the midst 

 of it Batsey gave Mr. Jorrocks a kidney so hot 

 off the fire, that he burnt his mouth, and as he 

 danced about the kitchen floor, unable to retain 

 it, yet unwilling to give it up, she took advantage 

 of the opportunity and slipped quietly away, to 

 have a cry in her own room. Our master then 

 finished his breakfast with a blistered mouth, 

 as best he could, and then followed Pigg to 

 the stable. 



It was so dark when Pigg gave Mr. Jorrocks 



103 



