bornly, emboldened by
witnessing the effrontery of one apparently of his own class. "I sor you
two standin' together, and her a kissin' of you. There worn's no barge."

"Is the maiden modesty of a born lady to be disbelieved on the word of a
common boy that only walks the earth by the sufferance of the landlords
and moneylords he helps to feed?" cried Smilash indignantly. "Why, you
young infidel, a lady ain't made of common brick like you. She don't
know what a kiss means, and if she did, is it likely that she'd kiss
me when a fine man like the inspector here would be only too happy to
oblige her. Fie, for shame! The barge were red and yellow, with a green
dragon for a figurehead, and a white horse towin' of it. Perhaps you're
color-blind, and can't distinguish red and yellow. The bargee was moved
to compassion by the sight of the poor faintin' lady, and the offer of
'arf-a-crown, and he had a mother that acted as a mother should. There
was a cabin in that barge about as big as the locker where your ladyship
keeps your jam and pickles, and in that locker the bargee lives, quite
domestic, with his wife and mother and five children. Them canal boats
is what you may call the wooden walls of England."

"Come, get on with your story," said the inspector. "We know what barges
is as well as you."

"I wish more knew of 'em," retorted Smilash; "perhaps it 'ud lighten
your work a bit. However, as I was sayin', we went right down the canal
to Lyvern, where we got off, and the lady she took the railway omnibus
and went away in it. With the noble openhandedness of her class, she
gave me sixpence; here it is, in proof that my words is true. And I wish
her safe home, and if I was on the rack I could tell no more, except
that when I got back I were laid hands on by these here bobbies,
contrary to the British constitooshun, and if your ladyship will kindly
go to where that constitooshun is wrote down, and find out wot it sez
about my rights and liberties--for I have been told that the working-man
has his liberties, and have myself seen plenty took with him--you
will oblige a common chap more than his education will enable him to
express."

"Sir," cried Mr. Jansenius suddenly, "will you hold up your head and
look me in the face?"

Smilash did so, and immediately started theatrically, exclaiming, "Whom
do I see?"

"You would hardly believe it," he continued, addressing the company at
large, "but I am well beknown to this honorable