Captain Dahber. 6i 



Our worthy friend didn't know what to be at. He was 

 too heavy for steeplechase riding, he was too ugly for an 

 artist's model ; at last, as he turned it over in his mind in 

 bed one morning, he had just settled with himself that he 

 would shave off the scrubby moustache and beard he 

 usually sported, and advertise for a situation as coachman 

 in a respectable family (wouldn't he rob the cornbin ! he 

 thought to himself), when rat-tat came the postman's 

 knock at the front door, and by and bye the dirty servant- 

 of-all-work appeared bearing a letter for the Captain — a 

 letter, too, with a black border two inches deep at least. 

 The worthy Captain's heart beat as loudly as the tick of a 

 Dutch clock as he opened it. It proved to be from the 

 well-known firm of lawyers, Messrs. Weezle and Stote, of 

 Lincoln's Inn, acquainting him with the fact that his aunt, 

 Miss Tabitha Tipcat, had lately departed this life, and 

 had left him, with the exception of a few trifling legacies, 

 all she possessed. Charlie was in ecstasies ; he was set up 

 again for life. He'd turn over a new leaf altogether, and 

 be a good boy for the rest of his days, " hang'd if he 

 wouldn't; he quite made up his mind to that." When he 

 had dressed himself, he went straight out, and ordered him- 

 self a capital dinner at a certain snug chop-house he was 

 aware of. He also ordered a bottle of champagne, a luxury 

 he had not tasted for goodness knows how long. He 

 then swaggered off to order his mourning, and draw 

 the lawyers of a little ready money on account. Over his 

 coffee and cognac that night after dinner he puffed his 

 cigar, and arranged all his plans for the future. The old 

 ladies' lease had just expired, so he would be enabled once 

 more to inhabit Ivy Lodge. The following week all was 

 settled. Mrs. Plummer was installed as major domo, and 



