€iuo Coptr^. 83 



one I 'ave at 'ome, and wanted him for, and, there- 

 fore, you can 'ave "im, my lad, "as I'm full of 'unters, 

 and only bought him for a werry good customer of 

 mine, what wants a match pair at once, but he's a 

 particular man, even to 'arf an inch, or I could 'ave 

 got three figures for the 'oss to-morrow." 



"Well," remarked W., somewhat carelessly, deter- 

 mined to give the big fish he had hooked plenty of 

 line; and "Well!" shouted Mr. B. in response, with 

 admirably feigned astonishment. " Well ! " he re- 

 peated, raising his voice almost to a shout. "Well! 

 all you've got to do, youngster, is to get the Hauction- 

 eer's clerk to re-book the 'oss in your name, 'stead of 

 mine, afore I changes my mind, that's all the Svell' 

 there is about it ; " and then, with a gruff chuckle, 

 B. rattled the loose coin in his pockets until the said 

 chuckle gave place to what did duty in his case for 

 a merry peal of laughter — a sound similar to that 

 emitted from an India rubber ball which, having been 

 previously filled with wa"ter, is having the last drops 

 uncompromisingly squeezed out of it again. 



This merriment, however, was of short duration ; 

 W.'s previousl}^ solemn expression now being cast 

 aside, and a somewhat supercilious smile reigning 

 in its stead upon his sallow visage, as he remarked, 

 somewhat indifferently, " Why, they tell me he's 

 a bull ! " 



