off and look seedy, him with being married to her
ladyship, and me pulled down, fretting about you."

"Get along with your nonsense! I know. You were a pair of regular
rackety rakes, and her ladyship has done wonders for Sir Hilton."

"Well, ain't you done wonders and improved me, dear? You know I ain't
like the same chap."

"Oh, I don't know. I sometimes feel I'm very stupid to think about you.
You're always talking about your old ramping, scamping days."

"But there wasn't any harm in 'em, Jenny. Only a bit of sport--a race
here, a steeplechase there, and a turn at hunting in the winter. Ah!
they was times, Jenny, my gal Reglar old English gentleman sort of life.
Go to bed when you liked; get up when you liked. Breakfast in bed or
out of it. None of your tea-and-toasting, but a hock and seltzer for a
start; nice little devilled something after, and there you were, fit as
a fiddle. None of your time-table life, like it is here."

"Yes, you were a nice pair."

"We were, Jenny, and we're not to be sneezed at now; but you're a bit
hard on us, Jenny, both of you."

"I'm too soft on you, Mark, and you know it."

"Well--say sometimes, my dear; but you know you are orful nubbly now and
then, and you say things to me that buzz in my ears like bluebottles in
a stable window. I don't grumble, but I'm sorry for the guv'nor, that I
am."

"Ah! he has a deal to grumble at. Wasted as good as three fortunes."

"Woho, my lass! Steady there! Not wasted. Spent 'em like a noble
English baronet, and he always had his money's worth. Yes, we did."

"We indeed! Wasted everything, he did, on the Turf, and then was sold
up disgraceful. Just like a pore man might be."

"Gently, my lass, gently!" cried Mark. "Sold up, and disgraceful?
Nothing of the kind. The luck was again' us, and we can't quite meet
our engagements; so we lets the things come to the hammer. Old Tat
knocks 'em down to the highest bidder at High Park Corner, and we pays
like gentlemen as far as the money goes. What more would you have till
the luck turns and we pay up again?"

"Ah! you're a nice pair. It was time you were both off the Turf.
Neither of you ever cared."

"Don't say that, my lass. I cared a deal, and when I see my
satin-skinned beauties knocked down--"

"Your what?"

"'Osses, my gal, 'osses--the tears quite come in my eyes."

"I dessay," said Jenny, tartly. "I believe you think much more of a
horse than you ever did abo