' FARM TO LET.' 99 



"Why here's a Farm of two hundred and fifty 

 acres to let 'drained and otherwise improved by the 

 proprietor' I wonder whose it is : that's just the sort 

 of farm young What's 'is name was wanting that 

 'ou'd just suit him, would n't it?" 



" Well, what is his name," returned the other voice, 

 uninquiringly again, and never looking up. 



"Why young oh! what is his name I shall 

 forget my own soon" (a grunt from the fireplace) 

 " young Leejohn, you know him. You don't mean 

 to say you don't know him ?" 



" I didn't say I didn't," answered Mr. Bowles with 

 provoking gravity of iteration, bent upon giving the 

 smallest modicum of intellect to anything else till he 

 had finished his 'leader:' which having just accom- 

 plished he starts up, lets go the hobs, and parting his 

 coat-tails, turns round, and again takes possession of 

 the fire ; indescribably ; and waking up to the subject, 

 asks, 



" But how can he take it : you said 10/. to the acre 

 didn't you? He hasn't the money. ('Legion' in- 

 deed!)" 



"'ordbleshye!" 



Added to a toss up of the chin out of the cravat, 

 to give emphasis to the middle word, this invocation 



H 2 



