THE HARD-UP. 5S 



other, looking* two or three sizes larger than life ; and 

 ^ WilHam !' sajs she too." 



'^ What, another couple, eh, Billy ? Eg-ad ! you was 

 in luck for once." 



"No, no, hear me out— and ^William,' says she, ^I 

 have watched you narrowly here to-night, and admired 

 the interest you have taken in everything* — there, William, 

 is a perpetual admission, which will allow you to come 

 and improve yourself as often as you choose.' " 



" My wig- ! whata sell !" said the stout man, with a 

 roar ; " and did you take it?" 



'^Tohe sure I did; handed them into the carriage ; 

 hid them good night ; got all sorts of blessings and ad- 

 vice in return ; and hailing- a Hansom, was at the Albion, 

 in Drury-lane, at a quarter before twelve !" 



" And do you mean to say you went to the Masquerade, 

 after all?" 



" To be sure I did : and let fellows say what they will 

 about the Masquerade being slow — perhaps it is, in some 

 cases — after a jolly night with four or five good fellows, 

 who go there with the may-be mistaken notion of getting 

 something a great deal better ; or, after leaving a lot 

 of nice girls with the same idea ; or, rushing- away from 

 single-handed lodgings, under the plea that you must be 

 delighted forthwith. I would'nt warrant it then exactly 

 — but try it, as I did, my friends ; let it come unhoped 

 for after a first heat at the Polytechnic, or the Rev. Mr. 

 Grind at Exeter Hall — by Jove ! I never had such a night 

 in my life, and I don't think Her Gracious Majesty's 

 Ministers had much out of me the next day." 



*'Melt the two, Billy?" 



*' Rather ! and what d'ye think I did with the Perpetual 

 Order?" 



