INTERVIEW WITH JORROCKS'S GHOST 357 



where you come from ? " I asked, somewhat diffidently, 

 when the toast had been duly honoured. 



" Good country ! " said Mr. J., briskly, — " good coun- 

 try ! best in Hengland I should say, I mean " — he cor- 

 rected, " better nor any in Hengland, Europe, Hasia, 

 Hafrica, or Hamerica ; not but what I sometimes gives 

 a bit of a sigh for a duster on top of the Surrey 'ills or 

 a chevy round Pinch-me-near Forest ; but parts of the 

 Helysian fields is good enough for any hangel ; beats 

 the cream of the Cut-me-downs 'oUow, I should say ! " 



"Big fields out?" I hazarded. 



" Hawf ul crowds ! " said my visitor ; " perfect hosts, 

 in fact ! But room enough for all. Good chaps, most 

 on 'em, too ! Sportsmen ? Real fliers, some of 'em ! 

 Fly over a comet as soon as not." 



"Seen anything of Pigg?" I asked rather doubt- 

 fully. 



" James is going strong," replied Mr. J., slightly 

 to my surprise. " He's 'appy now he can have his 

 'cracks wi' 'ard Lambton and 'ard Sebright,' tho' 

 he doesn't care a copper what he says to any on 'em, 

 but we doesn't allow no cuss words. Even old 

 Scamperdale never throws his tongue as he used to 

 do, and Spraggon isn't 'untin' with us to do it for him," 

 he added somewhat grimly. 



"But it's 'stonishing how a real 'flying' country 

 tones 'em all down. Some of the new-comers tried 

 to haet up to their old reputation ; but it wouldn't 

 do, for there's no jostlin', no 'ustlin' in gateways, and 

 no 'eadin' foxes. Why, we even 'as old Hassheton 

 Smith so tame he'd almost feed out o' your 'and ! 



" No cussin' or swearin', no hindiscriminate 'ollerin' 



