spitable old party. She asks Nell and
her grandfather to take some refreshment--

"The grandfather humbly pulled off his hat and thanked her. The
lady of the caravan then bade him come up the stairs, but the drum
proving an inconvenient table for two, they descended again and sat
upon the grass, where she handed down to them the tea-tray, the
bread and butter, the knuckle of ham, and in short everything of
which she had partaken herself, except the bottle which she had
already embraced an opportunity of slipping into her pocket.

"'Set 'em out near the hind wheels, child, that's the best place,'
said their friend superintending the arrangements from above. 'Now
hand up the tea-pot for a little more hot water, and a pinch of
fresh tea, and then both of you eat and drink as much as you can,
and don't spare anything; that's all I ask you.'

"While they were thus engaged the lady of the caravan alighted on
the earth, and with her hands clasped behind her, and her large
bonnet trembling excessively, walked up and down in a measured
tread and very stately manner surveying the caravan from time to
time with an air of calm delight and deriving particular
gratification from the red panels and brass knocker. When she had
taken this gentle exercise for some time, she sat down upon the
steps and called 'George,' whereupon a man in a carter's frock, who
had been so shrouded in a hedge up to this time as to see
everything that passed without being seen himself, parted the twigs
that concealed him and appeared in a sitting attitude supporting on
his legs a baking dish, and a half gallon stone bottle, and bearing
in his right hand a knife, and in his left a fork.

"'Yes, missus,' said George.

"'How did you find the cold pie, George?'

"'It worn't amiss, mum.'

"'And the beer?' said the lady of the caravan with an appearance of
being more interested in this question than the last, 'is it
passable, George?'

"'It's more flatterer than it might be,' George returned, 'but it
a'nt so bad for all that.'

"To set the mind of his mistress at rest, he took a sip (amounting
in quantity to a pint or thereabouts) from the stone bottle, and
then smacked his lips, winked his eye, and nodded his head. No
doubt with the same amiable desire he immediately resu