mselves to when busy over their work. He did not see the two young
gentlemen till they had been watching his operations for a few seconds,
but as soon as he did so, respectfully touched his cap and asked them
to look at his horses.

Walking into the stable, Thomas, cap in hand, respectfully pointed out
all the perfections of his pets and the neatness of all the
appointments. Then he conducted them into the harness room, which was
at the top of a short flight of stairs.

Thomas was about to close an interior door, which half open gave a view
into his own private quarters, when, a sudden idea striking him, Frank
said, "You won't mind, Thomas, if we take a peep into your
sanctum--unless you have got a young lady you would rather we did not
see. I only want to let Mr. Mortimer see how cosy your room is,
besides, you know, I have often had a sly smoke with you there on wet
days when I was home for the holidays before, and I know you have
always got some nice clean glasses in your cupboard, if not anything
better than water to offer us. But I have taken care of that and
brought a good flask of finest brandy. I got the housekeeper to give me
some of papa's real _vieux cognac_. It's ever so old and goes down like
milk. Just the thing, Thomas, to keep you up to your work when you have
a nice girl. But I forget you never do anything of the sort, eh! How
about little Lucy, the under-housemaid, who I hear had to go home with
a big belly not long ago?"

"Lord, sir!" said Thomas, quite enjoying Frank's joke, "that'll be
another of old Stroker's kids when it's born. He did it when she went
up to be taught her confirmation lesson. I'm told he confirmed seven
girls in fucking, this examination. He's a regular ram of a parson, and
will soon be the father of all the young'uns in the parish. I wonder
Master let Miss Ethel go to him at all. I always suspected the old
fellow after the way he treated me."

They entered the snug little bedroom, where everything was a clean as a
new pin, and seated themselves on the only two chairs that were there,
whilst the groom brought out the glasses and fetched a jug of bright
sweet spring water from the pump outside.

Frank, mixing a rather stiffish drop, said, "Now, Thomas, drink the
Rev. Mr. Stroker's health, and then tell us all about his tricks with
you."

Himself and Harry also took a little of the brandy. And Thomas, pressed
to begin, cleared his throat and commenced:

"Well, Mr. Frank and