246 OCCASIONAL HAPPY THOUGHTS. 



on the spur of the moment. His Hps move, but he is 

 silent. 



" Stand down, Sir," says Mr. Sharply, utterly disgusted 

 .with the man's imbecility. " Now, next case." 



The stout man is led from the box in a wandering state, 

 and is joined by the thin man and the Wavering Policeman, 

 who shows them out ; and on the other side of the door, I 

 suppose, they will forgive one another, and weep in each 

 other's arms. 



The next case is my Aunt's. 



Thomas Muddock, the Cabman, is called. He steps into 

 the witness-box, looking very respectable, and totally unlike 

 the drunken man who couldn't drive my Aunt on the memo- 

 rable night of her visit to my cottage. 



Thomas Muddock takes his oath, and tells his story. He 

 drove the lady from Jummin Street to the Hole, Squedgely, 

 ten miles out of town, where he waited for her five hours, 

 and he claims thirty-two shillings. 



Which is all clear enough. 



So far the Cabman has it entirely his own way. My 

 Aunt has come out of the pew, and is clutching me by the 

 elbow. " Where shall I go ? " she asks, shaking all over. 



I am hot and excited. I beg of her to keep cool. She 

 is called. The clerk says, " Henrietta ! " and then adds the 

 surname. 



Mr. Sharply only catches half, and asks, abruptly, 



" Where is he ? Where is Henry ? Why doesn't he " 



My Aunt is beckoned by the Clerk. She has heard of 

 people "being accommodated with a seat on the bench, 



