256 THE OPEN AIB, 



Another shutter on wheels went by one day with 

 one little pony in the shafts, and a second harnessed 

 in some way at the side, so as to assist in pulling, 

 but without bearing any share of the load. On this 

 shutter eight men and boys balanced themselves ; 

 enough for the Olympian height of a four-in-hand. 

 Eight fellows perched round the edge like shipwrecked 

 mariners, clinging to one plank. They were so 

 balanced as to weigh chiefly on the axle, yet in front 

 of such a mountain of men, such a vast bundle of 

 ragged clothes, the ponies appeared like rats. 



On a Sunday morning two fellows came along on 

 their shutter : they overtook a girl who was walking 

 on the pavement, and one of them, more sallow and 

 cheeky than his companion, began to talk to her. 

 *' That's a nice nosegay, now — give us a rose. Come 

 and ride — there's plenty of room. Won't speak? 

 Now, you'll tell us if this is the road to London 

 Bridge." She nodded. She was dressed in full satin 

 for Sunday ; her class think much of satin. She was 

 leading two children, one in each hand, clean and 

 well-dressed. She walked more lightly than a servant 

 does, and evidently lived at home ; she did not go to 

 service. Tossing her head, she looked the other way, 

 for you see the fellow on the shutter was du'ty, not 

 '* di*essed " at all, though it was Sunday, poor folks' 

 ball-day ; a du'ty, rough fellow, with a short clay pipe 

 in his mouth, a chalky-white face — apparently from 

 low dissipation — a disreputable rascal, a monstrously 

 impudent " chap," a true London mongrel. He 

 ** cheeked " her ; she tossed her head, and looked the 

 other way. But by-and-by she could not help a sly 



