THE AMATEURS 259 



the young 'un.' By great good luck we got 

 pretty Avell into the street, and, Avithout anything 

 worth telling, for some way past Temple Bar ; 

 but, as my evil star Avould have it, the narrow 

 part of the Strand Avas uncommonly full, and 

 having rather an awlvAvard team, and being more- 

 over in a pretty particular stew, Ave had more 

 than one squeak at sundry posts, drays, etc., etc. 

 Still, not a Avord Avas uttered by the artist, though 

 by this time he had scrambled in front, till, after 

 a devil of a mistake in turning into the Hay- 

 market, he touched my arm very civilly, Avith a 

 ' Pull up, if you please, sir, by that empty coal- 

 cart.' I did so — at least, as Avell as I could — and 

 found, to my utter horror, that it Avas for the 

 purpose of his requesting the grinning blacka- 

 moors that belonged to it to lend him some six 

 or seven of their sacks, to take the drag home ; 

 ' for,' said he, ' I am sure the gentleman Avon't 

 take it up to the Gloucester Coffee House a 

 coach. ^ " 



