72 A BOOK ABOUT THE GAKDEN. 



hyster.". Artful Joseph ! shrewd in thy reticence, as 

 the monk Eustace with Elspeth Glendinning, when 

 he remembered that a woman of the good dame's 

 condition was like a top, which, if you let it spin 

 untouched, must at last come to a pause ; but, if you 

 interrupt it by flogging, there is no end to its gyra- 

 tions ! 



At an earlier period of their acquaintance Joseph 

 had essayed by various demonstrations to intimate 

 to Mrs. V. that her monologues were a little tedious, 

 yawning with extended arms, and consulting his 

 watch from time to time in a very anxious and 

 ostentatious manner. Such a watch! After an 

 entire derangement of the owner's vest, a liberal 

 display of brace and button, and some powerful 

 tuggings at a steel chain, out it came from its well, 

 like the diving-bell at the Polytechnic. Mr. Chiswick 

 pretended to covet the case, as "a sweet tank for 

 the Victoria lily," and affirmed that when Grundy 

 travelled on the rail his timepiece was charged as 

 extra luggage. But the exhibition of this huge 

 chronometer, displayed and brandished as some 

 intimation that time was on the wing and precious, 

 by no means produced the effect proposed. " The 

 old mare " (you must really excuse Joseph's stable 

 mind) " began to rear and plunge like any think ; and 

 says I to mysen, this here's a hanimal, which she'll 

 stand no ticklings by whips nor straps, and if you 

 don't give her her 'ed, Joe Grundy, you'll be having 

 her heels through your splashboard ! " 



If evidence were required to show the prudence 

 of these reflections, and I wished to demonstrate the 



