LOW PRICES AND LONG FACES. 133 



blight of Plenty, over the sons of the soil, and 

 before September had crisped the morning air, and 

 the partridge-chick had found cool midday covert 

 under the young turnip-leaf, every county journal 

 had its broad page of c Sales of Farming stock' set 

 in types in which he who ran might read some- 

 thing more than met the eye. 



' Fallen upon bad times ! all up with 



farming, I doubt, Sir ! ' said a muffled voice, out of 

 a red-striped neck-warmer ; joggingly : for the ut- 

 terer of the sentiment was on a rough nag, not a 

 * good un to look at,' but he went as an old clock 

 does, by habit with an ash-stick steadily going, 

 for pendulum, on one side, and a spur peeping under 

 the left gaiter, and steadily going too, on the other, 

 for regulator. 



' All up with farming, I doubt ! ' 



And the speaker threw an eye sideways to one 

 who rode on his left, as he repeated the last words, 

 an eye most expressive for with the good- 

 natured * crow's foot' that nestled close up to it and 

 seemed to tell of home-feelings and fireside meiribries, 

 there was a momentary wrinkle, a peep of something 

 well accustomed to concealment, that glanced out 

 for an instant telegraphing (how rapidly ! ) a half 



