18 STABLE SECRETS. 



tight as trousers could be made so as to hold safely together, 

 through the agency of buttons and stitches, associated his legs 

 with the familiar effect of a couple of sticks of black sealing- 

 wax. It might not have been a perfect circle, but the narrow 

 rim of George Spindles' hat could scarcely have been far re- 

 moved from a single curved line, every part of which was 

 equally distant from its centre, and lent the wearer a jaunty 

 air, which a Quaker's broadbrim, or looped-up bishop's, would 

 have signally failed in securing. 



Such was the attire of George Spindles, when before the 

 footlights of the world's stage, varied by a flexible blue cloth 

 cap, and long-waisted, single-breasted, holland jacket, when 

 occupied behind the scenes of the ancient exhibition, combining 

 the entire business of tragedy, comedy, and farce. 



"I needn't waste wind," said the head lad of the Great 

 Stable of the North, " in telling ye what you know already." 



Puffy Doddles agreed in the self-evident absurdity of adopt- 

 ing an opposite course. 



" Just so," continued George Spindles. " Then all I shall say 

 is, if you are to get on in this shop, you must never want to be 

 told twice about anything, whether it's to be done or undone." 



Puffy Doddles could not recollect a single instance of his 

 life when instructions, once given, had to be repeated. 



« Yery good," resumed George Spindles, " then don't begin 

 to have 'em cuckoo'd just now. As to stable dooties, you know 

 all about them," continued he • " old Turnip-Tops put you through 

 that sieve well, I know. But remember night and day, sleeping 

 and waking, eating, drinking, and even when shaving, that you 

 are now in the Great Stable of the North ! Look sharp, hear 

 sharp, think sharp, but" — the speaker paused, and bringing 

 his lips close to his ready listener's nearest ear, whispered — " be 

 as mute as if you were in the mole country," and jerking the 

 point of a finger towards the ground immediately beneath his 

 feet, conveyed his meaning of the " mole country " with con- 

 siderable illustrative power. 



