want nootriment."

"`What's this?' he says.

"`Your lotion, sir,' I says, and he tasted it, and tasted it again,
sipping, then mouthfulling, and sets the glass down, with a sigh.

"`What is it, Brigley?' he says.

"`Noo-lade egg, sir, noo milk, lump o' sugar, and half a glass o'
sherry, well lathered up with a swizzle-stick.'

"`Hah!' he says, `is there any more?'

"`No, sir,' I says; `not this morning. Now then, sir,' I says; `if you
please?' And then I takes off his belts and his regimentals, gets him
on the couch, and I rubs him and cracks him."

"You did what?" cried Dick.

"Massages him, sir; and him a-staring at me all the time. After that I
shampoos and washes him, trims the pyntes off his hair, waxes his
starshers, gives him a cigarette, and then I rejoices his heart."

"How?" said Dick, laughing.

"By telling on him the truth, sir."

"What truth?"

"I stood back and looked at him, and I says to him: `There, sir; don't
you feel like a new man?'

"Ah, yes! he says, with one o' those big mellingcholly sighs of his'n,
which makes me think he's got something on his mind.

"`And now, sir,' I says, `you look puffect.'

"`Oh, nonsense, man!' he says, sharply.

"`Begging your pardon, sir!' I says, `you do!' and he says, sadly--

"`Well, Brigley, have it your own way; 'tis no fault of mine.'

"I see then as I oughtn't to say no more, for fear of his thinking I
flattered him. But, really, he is as handsome and big a chap as ever I
did see."

"Yes, he is good-looking, Jerry; but if you talk much like that you'll
disgust him."

"An' I shan't talk to him like that again, Dick Smithson; and I
shouldn't, then, only it was the honest truth. It's a pleasure to do up
a gent like that! Why, I could win a prize with him at a show! But he
is a soft one, really!--milk's nothing to him!"

"Never mind that, Jerry. You'll find him an excellent master."

"I know I shall, and thankful I am; for it's been a rough time with me
lately, and it's refreshing to have to do for such a gent. He really
is, though, the handsomest chap I ever see out of a picture, though he
do make me laugh to find him such a hinfant. Think he could fight?"

"I think he's brave as a lion, Jerry; and that it would be awkward for
anyone who roused him up."

"That's yer sort for me, sir. I call that real English."

"And he'd be clever enough, if put to the test. But he's well-off, and
takes life easily. You've got a good m