was too
fond of muffings to try this game on again: besides, she was jealous of
her three grown sisters, and considered Mary as only a child. Law bless
us! how she used to ogle him, and quot bits of pottry, and play "Meet
Me by Moonlike," on an old gitter: she reglar flung herself at his head:
but he wouldn't have it, bein better ockypied elsewhere.

One night, as genteel as possible, he brought home tickets for
"Ashley's," and proposed to take the two young ladies--Miss Betsy and
Miss Mary, in course. I recklect he called me aside that afternoon,
assuming a solamon and misterus hare, "Charles," said he, "ARE YOU UP TO
SNUFF?"

"Why sir," said I, "I'm genrally considered tolerably downy."

"Well," says he, "I'll give you half a suffering if you can manage this
bisness for me; I've chose a rainy night on purpus. When the theatre is
over, you must be waitin with two umbrellows; give me one, and hold the
other over Miss Buckmaster: and, hark ye, sir, TURN TO THE RIGHT when
you leave the theater, and say the coach is ordered to stand a little
way up the street, in order to get rid of the crowd."

We went (in a fly hired by Mr. A.), and never shall I forgit Cartliche's
hacting on that memrable night. Talk of Kimble! talk of Magreedy!
Ashley's for my money, with Cartlitch in the principal part. But this
is nothink to the porpus. When the play was over, I was at the door with
the umbrellos. It was raining cats and dogs, sure enough.

Mr. Altamont came out presently, Miss Mary under his arm, and Miss
Betsy following behind, rayther sulky. "This way, sir," cries I, pushin
forward; and I threw a great cloak over Miss Betsy, fit to smother her.
Mr. A. and Miss Mary skipped on and was out of sight when Miss Betsy's
cloak was settled, you may be sure.

"They're only gone to the fly, miss. It's a little way up the street,
away from the crowd of carridges." And off we turned TO THE RIGHT, and
no mistake.

After marchin a little through the plash and mud, "Has anybody seen
Coxy's fly?" cries I, with the most innocent haxent in the world.

"Cox's fly!" hollows out one chap. "Is it the vaggin you want?" says
another. "I see the blackin wan pass," giggles out another gentlmn; and
there was such a hinterchange of compliments as you never heerd. I pass
them over though, because some of 'em were not wery genteel.

"Law, miss," said I, "what shall I do? My master will never forgive me;
and I haven't a single sixpence to pay a coach.