"Yes, sir, yes; but the young lady, and--"

"Ah, yes, ma'am. Well, then, going to the window once, twice, or

thrice, I could not help but see a young man standing beneath it,

evidently in waiting--very earnest, very watchful--seemingly very

much interested and anxious, as if waiting for somebody."

"Is it possible?" whispered the tabby, full of expectation.

"Yes, very possible, ma'am--very true." There he stood; I could even

hoar his deep-drawn sighs--deep, long, as if from the very bottom

of his heart.' "Was he so VERY near, sir?"

"Just under the window--going to and fro--very anxious. I was

almost afraid I had spit on him, he looked up so hard--so--"

"What, sir, up at you? at--at MY windows, sir?"

"Not exactly, ma'am, that was only my notion, for I thought I

might have spit upon him, and so wakened his anger; but, indeed,

he looked all about him, as, indeed, it was natural that he should,

you know, if he meditated anything that wa'n't exactly right. There

was a carriage in waiting--a close carriage--not a hundred yards

below, and--"

"Ah, sir, do tell me what sort of a looking young gentleman was

it--eh?"

"Good-looking fellow enough, ma'am--rather tall, slenderish, but

not so slender--wore a black frock." By this time the old creature

was up at the window--her long, skinny neck stretched out as far

as it could go.

"Ah!" said I, "ma'am, you're quite too late, if you expect to see

the sport. They're off; I saw the last of them when I took my last

spit from the window. They were then--"

"But, sir, did he--did you say that this person--the person you

spit on--carried a young lady away with him?"

"You mistake me, ma'am--"

"Ah"--she drew a mighty long breath as if relieved.

"I did NOT spit upon him; I only came near doing it once or twice.

If I hadn't looked, I should very probably have divided my quid

pretty equally between both of them."

"Both! both!" she almost screamed. "Did she go with him, then?--was

there in truth a young woman?"

"You never saw a creature in such a tearing fidget. Her long

nose was nearly stuck into my face, and both her hands, all claws

extended, seemed ready for my cheeks. I felt a little ticklish, I

assure you; but I kept up my courage, determined to see the game

out, and answered very deliberately, after I had put a fresh quid

into my jaws:--"

"Ay, that she did, ma'am, and seemed deuced glad to go, as was

natural enough. A mighty pretty girl she was, too; rather thin,

but pretty enough to tempt a clever fellow to do anything. I reckon

they're nigh on to being man and wife by this time, let the old

people say what they will."




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