ell, Mrs. Catherine, a handsome, well-dressed, plump, rosy woman of
three or four and thirty (and when, my dear, is a woman handsomer than
at that age?), came in quite merrily from her walk, and entered the
back-parlour, which looked into a pleasant yard, or garden, whereon the
sun was shining very gaily; and where, at a table covered with a nice
white cloth, laid out with some silver mugs, too, and knives, all with
different crests and patterns, sat an old gentleman reading in an old
book.

"Here we are at last, Doctor," said Mrs. Hayes, "and here's his speech."
She produced the little halfpenny tract, which to this day is sold at
the gallows-foot upon the death of every offender. "I've seen a many men
turned off, to be sure; but I never did see one who bore it more like a
man than he did."

"My dear," said the gentleman addressed as Doctor, "he was as cool and
as brave as steel, and no more minded hanging than tooth-drawing."

"It was the drink that ruined him," said Mrs. Cat.

"Drink, and bad company. I warned him, my dear,--I warned him years ago:
and directly he got into Wild's gang, I knew that he had not a year
to run. Ah, why, my love, will men continue such dangerous courses,"
continued the Doctor, with a sigh, "and jeopardy their lives for a
miserable watch or a snuff-box, of which Mr. Wild takes three-fourths of
the produce? But here comes the breakfast; and, egad, I am as hungry as
a lad of twenty."

Indeed, at this moment Mrs. Hayes's servant appeared with a smoking dish
of bacon and greens; and Mr. Hayes himself ascended from the cellar
(of which he kept the key), bearing with him a tolerably large jug
of small-beer. To this repast the Doctor, Mrs. Springatt (the other
lodger), and Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, proceeded with great alacrity. A fifth
cover was laid, but not used; the company remarking that "Tom had very
likely found some acquaintances at Tyburn, with whom he might choose to
pass the morning."

Tom was Master Thomas Billings, now of the age of sixteen: slim,
smart, five feet ten inches in height, handsome, sallow in complexion,
black-eyed and black-haired. Mr. Billings was apprentice to a tailor, of
tolerable practice, who was to take him into partnership at the end of
his term. It was supposed, and with reason, that Tom would not fail
to make a fortune in this business; of which the present head was one
Beinkleider, a German. Beinkleider was skilful in his trade (after
the manner of his nation