FIN AND FUR ON SURREY HILLS. 93 



the fish at his door as I pass, on my way to the 

 Hall.' 



"Said I, 'I'm going that road myself, and I will 

 carry it for you.' 



"'No, no, my dear friend. I could not let it be 

 a burden to you, especially after your great hospi- 

 tality to me.' 



"That did not quite satisfy me, but I let him 

 start, and then followed him up. He gave me the 

 double : he did not go the house road, so I made 

 for the way to the station, where a man told me 

 he had just met a parson running along, full trot. 

 He was not in the station, and I made for the 

 public. There I found our clerical humbug sitting 

 down, drinking grog, that same clay -pipe in his 

 mouth; and as I live he was .actually singing, 'Catch 

 'em alive, oh ! catch 'em alive ! ' 



" He could not see me where I stood in the bar — 

 he was inside the parlour. ' I'll catch you alive just 

 now, my gentleman,' I said, and I waited for him to 

 come out into the street. There I fixed him. 



" ' You canting villain ! ' I cried, ' what do you 

 mean by this swindle?' 



"Looking me full in the face, he said, 'My dear 



