236 OCCASIONAL HAPPY THOUGHTS. 



box (only licensed to hold one), I choose the pew where 

 the Reporter is. 



We seat ourselves, and listen to the Solicitors, who are 

 laughing and chatting loudly, chiefly (it appears from the 

 conversation, which is almost unintelligible to us) on pro- 

 fessional matters. 



A lady, smelling strongly of rum, joins us in the pew. 

 She is much interested in what we may be here for. 



" Is it an assault case ? " she asks my Aunt. 



" O dear no," replies my Aunt ; " it's only a summons." 



She says this as if there was nothing out of the way in 

 her being here for such an ordinary affair. 



" Summons for assault," persists the Rum Lady, eyeing 

 my Aunt as if contrasting her muscular power with her 

 own. 



I come to her relief. I explain, " A summons for a cab- 

 fare." 



" O !" says the Rum Lady, her interest evidently consider- 

 ably diminished : adding proudly, " Mine's assault." 



We both say " Indeed ! " and my Aunt edges away from 

 her towards the Reporter. The Rum Lady, being once 

 started, proceeds to inform us that her landlady (whom she 

 points out in the crowd behind the rail — a villainous-looking 

 one-eyed hag) had accused her of stealing the counterpane 

 and sheets. 



" But you didn't ? " I say, compassionately. 



" Didn't ! " she exclaims, in an energetic under-tone. " I 

 soon showed her I didn't." She is a big powerful woman, 

 and, luith ruxn, a decidedly awkward customer. I apologise; 



