The Amateur Gentleman

Justifies his New Name The chill of dawn was in the air as the chaise began to rumble over

the London cobble-stones, whereupon Master Milo (who for the last

hour had slumbered peacefully, coiled up in his corner like a kitten)

roused himself, sat suddenly very upright, straightened his cap and

pulled down his coat, broad awake all at once, and with his eyes as

round and bright as his buttons.

"Are you tired, Imp?" inquired Barnabas, yawning.

"Tired, sir, ho no, sir--not a bit, I ain't."

"But you haven't slept much."

"Slep', sir? I ain't slep'. I only jest 'appened to close me eyes,

sir. Ye see, I don't need much sleep, I don't,--four hours is enough

for any man,--my pal Nick says so, and Nick knows a precious lot, 'e

do."

"Who is Nick?"

"Nick's a cobbler, sir,--boots and shoes,--ladies' and gents', and a

very good cobbler 'e is too, although a cripple wiv a game leg. Me

and 'im's pals, sir, and though we 'as our little turn-ups 'count of

'im coming it so strong agin the Quality, I'm never very 'ard on 'im

'count of 'is crutch, d'ye see, sir."

"What do you mean by the 'Quality,' Imp?"

"Gentle-folks, sir,--rich folks like you an' m'lud. 'I'd gillertine

the lot, if I'd my way,' he says, 'like the Frenchies did in

Ninety-three,' 'e says. But 'e wouldn't reelly o'course, for Nick's

very tender-hearted, though 'e don't like it known. So we 're pals,

we are, and I often drop in to smoke a pipe wiv 'im--"

"What! Do you smoke, Imp?"

"Why, yes, o' course, sir,--all grooms smokes or chews, but I

prefers a pipe--allus 'ave, ah! ever since I were a kid. But I

mostly only 'as a pipe when I drop in on my pal Nick in Giles's Rents."

"Down by the River?" inquired Barnabas.

"Yessir. And now, shall I horder the post-boy to stop?"

"What for?"

"Well, the stables is near by, sir, and I thought as you might like

to take a glimp at the 'osses,--just to make your mind easy, sir."

"Oh, very well!" said Barnabas, for there was something in the boy's

small, eager face that he could not resist.

Therefore, having paid and dismissed the chaise, they turned into a

certain narrow by-street. It was very dark as yet, although in the

east was a faint, gray streak, and the air struck so chill, after

the warmth of the chaise, that Barnabas shivered violently, and,

happening to glance down, he saw that the boy was shivering also. On

they went, side by side, between houses of gloom and silence, and

thus, in a while, came to another narrow street, or rather, blind

alley, at the foot of which were the stables.