BEGGARS ON HORSEBACK. 143 



shop, where the hat - trimming department, un- 

 occupied as ourselves, sat conversationally in the 

 windows, " nor deemed the pastime slow." 



Draped in horse-sheets to keep the saddles dry, 

 the Tommies presently stood at the door; and 

 swaddled, like cabmen, in comforters and capes, 

 we came forth and mounted. During the process 

 of sorting the reins, the umbrellas, and the tips for 

 the two ostlers, we could not but be aware of the 

 guileless enjoyment of the hat department oppo- 

 site, and the more critical but equally unaffected 

 interest of the circus ladies and gentlemen at the 

 window of a ground-floor sitting-room. As we un- 

 furled the pink parasol and the tent-like gingham 

 and went down the street like a pair of fungi on 

 four legs, the chorus that broke from the ground- 

 floor window was acutely audible : — 



" Oo're ye goin' to meet, Bill ? 

 ^Ave ye bought the street, Bill ? 

 Lorf ? — why, I thought I should 'a died " 



Our riding-canes were in the hold-alls, but we 

 kicked the Tommies to a trot and fled. The 



