EYE-SERVANTS BAD SERVANTS. 57 



home as soon as you can, and I'll see you 

 to-morrow." 



I shifted myself when I got in, and then 

 went up to the house ; and after I had given 

 in my book, and got all settled, just as I ex- 

 pected, the squire began. " Gregory," said 

 he, " that man David must be sent about his 

 business a ragged fellow ; surely he earns 

 enough to keep decent clothes about him. 

 I'm afraid he drinks too much ; there's a 

 something about him I don't like, he never 

 looks comfortable, and when I happen to 

 drop upon him unawares, he always seems 

 to wake up and move faster at what he's 

 about ; and that's a thing I never like to see, 

 for it tells plainly that he's only an eye-ser- 

 vant, and an eye-servant I will not have. 

 I like a man to feel as much pleasure in 

 earning his wages as I have in paying them. 

 Come," said he, " Gregory, tell me how you 

 account for it ;- can he afford better clothes, 

 or can he not?" "I ask your pardon, sir," 

 said I, " and mean no offence; but if you'll 

 let me tell you all Fve thought about it, may- 

 be I shall do no harm, and you'd be better 

 pleased than if I held my tongue." " Go 

 on," said he. " Well, sir," said I, " you see 



