--like a Colossus;

"'And we petty men--'"

Pisistratus (savagely).--"Go on with your story."

Peacock (snappishly).--"I am going on with it! You put me out. Where was
I--oh--ah--yes. I had just been sold up,--not a penny in my pocket;
and if you could have seen my coat,--yet that was better than the small
clothes! Well, it was in Oxford Street,--no, it was in the Strand, near
the Lowther,--

"'The sun was in the heavens; and the proud day Attended
with the pleasures of the world."'

Pisistratus (lowering the glass).--"To St. James's Square?"

Peacock.--"No, no; to London Bridge.

"'How use doth breed a habit in a man!'

"I will go on,--honor bright. So I met Mr. Vivian, and as he had known
me in better days, and has a good heart of his own, he says,--

"'Horatio,--or I do forget myself."'

Pisistratus puts his hand on the check-string.

Peacock (correcting himself).--I mean--"Why, Johnson, my good fellow."'

Pisistratus.--"Johnson! Oh, that's your name,--not Peacock."

Peacock.--"Johnson and Peacock both [with dignity]. When you know
the world as I do, sir, you will find that it is ill travelling this
'naughty world' without a change of names in your portmanteau.

"'Johnson,' says he, 'my good fellow,' and he pulled out his purse.
'Sir,' said I, 'if, "exempt from public haunt," I could get something
to do when this dross is gone. In London there are sermons in stones,
certainly, but not "good in everything,"--an observation I should
take the liberty of making to the Swan if he were not now, alas! "the
baseless fabric of a vision."'"

Pisistratus.--"Take care!"

Peacock (hurriedly).--"Then says Mr. Vivian, 'If you don't mind wearing
a livery till I can provide for you more suitably, my old friend,
there's a vacancy in the establishment of Mr. Trevanion.' Sir, I
accepted the proposal; and that's why I wear this livery."

Pisistratus.--"And pray, what business had you with that young woman,
whom I take to be Miss Trevanion's maid? And why should she come from
Oxton to see you?"

I had expected that these questions would confound Mr. Peacock; but if
there were really anything in them to cause embarrassment, the ci-devant
actor was too practised in his profession to exhibit it. He merely
smiled, and smoothing jauntily a very tumbled shirt front, he said, "Oh,
sir, fie!

"'Of this matter
Is little Cupid's crafty arrow made.'

"If you must know my love affairs, th