MONK S CONVERSION. 349 



drew up before the fire to have a pipe and 

 something hot to drink, it being Christmas 

 Eve. " What would you like, Monk ; brandy, 

 whiskey, or home-made wine ? 



" Anything you like, keeper, I ain't 

 particular." 



So we had a comfortable pipe and glass 

 together, and fell to yarning about old times, 

 warming towards each other as Christmas 

 morn approached. 



" Wife," said I. " Look out some old 

 gaiters, will you ?" 



She went off, and presently she called out : 

 " I'll bring your old breeches, you'll never 

 wear them again, and here's two pair of old 

 shoes that are only lying about in the way, 

 and there's that old coat of yours if you don't 

 give it away I'll burn it." 



" Oh, don't do that, missus," cried Monk. 

 " It will be just the thing for me to go to work 

 in, please don't burn it." So the old jacket 

 was laid out on the floor and packed full of old 

 gaiters, shoes, breeches, rabbits, and so on. 

 Then, with this goodly bundle, and five 



