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104 STABLE SECKETS. 



" Might have come before and not kept a cove — 

 " You be blow'd ! " interrupted " Somebody." 

 As no more convenient opportunity may present itself for 

 sketching the full-length portrait of li Somebody," the cartoon 

 shall be drawn as he stands framed by the doorposts of the 

 best parlour, and hesitating, as it would seem, whether to 

 advance or retreat. 



A big, burly fellow was " Somebody," with a head which, in 

 shape and other properties, looked exceedingly like a bullet of 

 more than ordinary size and thickness. A level fringe of black, 

 straight hair hid whatever there might be of a forehead, and a 

 remarkably short, muscular neck, much exposed to view from 

 the negligent form in which the blue and white bird's-eye 

 cravat was twisted round, gave an effect of decided animal 

 tendency, rather than of an intellectual nature. High cheek 

 bones, small, sunken, restless black eyes, a nose never handsome, 

 perhaps, though anything but improved from the bridge being 

 fractured in other days, and left to set as flat as a muffin, with 

 a pair of thick, protruding lips, formed the irregular features 

 making up the entire countenance of " Somebody." If arrayed 

 in what is generally termed " his best," the state of his ward- 

 robe was anything but satisfactory, consisting, as it did, of a 

 greasy cloth cap, flannel jacket — anything but familiar with 

 soap and water — knee breeches — spotted by too many solids 

 and fluids for their colour to be perfectly described — and a pair 

 of " ancle jacks." Such was the costume of " Somebody " as he 

 stood framed by the door-posts of the best parlour of " Paddy's 

 Goose." 



" "Why don't ye come in 1 " surlily inquired Job Sweety, 

 glancing over his left shoulder. 



" "Why don't I come in ?" repeated " Somebody," with a 

 sneer. " 'Cause I don't seem to be the party as is wanted." 



" Come in, and don't make " — here Job Sweety intro- 

 duced a powerful adjective — '-'a fool of yourself. I've been 

 kept a-waiting " — another adjective here — " long enough.' 1 



