some chops and vegetables, and took the
covers off in such a bouncing manner, that I was afraid I must have
given him some offence. But he greatly relieved my mind by putting
a chair for me at the table, and saying very affably 'Now sixfoot
come on!'

"I thanked him and took my seat at the board; but found it
extremely difficult to handle my knife and fork with anything like
dexterity, or to avoid splashing myself with the gravy, while he
was standing opposite, staring so hard, and making me blush in the
most dreadful manner every time I caught his eye. After watching me
into the second chop, he said:

"There's half a pint of ale for you, will you have it now?'

"I thanked him and said 'Yes'--upon which he poured it out of a jug
into a large tumbler, and held it up against the light and made it
look beautiful.

"'My eye!' he said 'It seems a good deal, don't it.'

"'It does seem a good deal,' I answered with a smile, for it was
quite delightful to me to find him so pleasant. He was a
twinkling-eyed, purple-faced man, with his hair standing upright
all over his head; and as he stood with one arm akimbo, holding up
the glass to the light, with one hand he looked quite friendly.

"'There was a gentleman here yesterday,' he said, 'a stout
gentleman by the name of Topsawyer, perhaps you know him?'

"'No,' I said, I don't think--

"'In breeches and gaiters, broad-brimmed hat, grey coat, speckled
choker,' said the waiter.

"'No,' I said bashfully, 'I hav'n't the pleasure--'

"'He came here,' said the waiter, looking at the light through the
tumbler, 'ordered a glass of this ale, _would_ order it, I told him
not--drank it, and fell dead. It was too old for him. It oughtn't
to be drawn, that's the fact.'

"I was very much shocked to hear of this melancholy accident, and
said I thought I had better have some water. 'Why, you see,' said
the waiter, looking at the light through the tumbler with one of
his eyes shut, 'our people don't like things being ordered and
left. It offends them. But I'll drink it, if you like. I'm used to
it, and use is everything. I don't think it will hurt me if I throw
my head back and take it off quick; shall I?'

"I replied that he would much oblige me by drinking it, if he
thought he could do it s