AT THE FAIR. 



2 39 



neously put their fingers in their mouths, in 

 honour of me ; but I turned aside to observe 

 how the interview would be continued, unem- 

 barrassed by the presence of a stranger. 

 Little Big Breeches was the first to speak, 

 which he did simply by taking his tuppence 

 out, and thereby challenged his acquaintances 

 to a measure of their resources. Little Big 

 Breeches seemed to have the best of the game 

 of brag, for his friend made a kick at his shins, 

 I suppose to prove that he had no great re- 

 spect for wealth ; whereupon I interfered, and 

 proposed gingerbread all round for the com- 

 pany. The friends of Big Breeches neither 

 said yea nor nay, but again returned their 

 fingers to their mouths, accompanying me, 

 however, to the refreshment stall. When 

 gingerbread was over we continued our round, 

 and now there was a delicious burst of music 

 from an enormous peep-show, on the front of 

 which there were, if you please, the very finest 

 pictures that Big Breeches ever saw. Why 

 give your penny when you could have so 

 much for nothing? And so the organ (for 

 why disguise it from you ? it was an organ, and 



