you, Limping
Billy--but eh, who has run away with my basket offish?"

"Ha, ha, ha," cried Limping Billy, bursting into a horse-laugh at the
additional distress of the old woman, in which he was joined by many of
the surrounding spectators; and which so enraged her, that she let go
her hold, and bursting through the crowd with an irresistible strength,
increased almost to the fury of madness by her additional loss, she ran
some paces distance in search of, not only her stock in trade, but
her shop, shop-board, and working-tools; while the donkey-driver
boisterously vociferated after her--"Here they are six a shilling, live
mackarel O."

This taunt of the brick-dust merchant was too much to be borne, and
brought her back again with a determination to chastise him, which she
did in a summary way, by knocking him backwards into the kennel. Billy
was not pleased at this unexpected salute, called her a drunken ----,
and endeavoured to get out of her way--"for," said he, "I know she is a
b----dy rum customer when she gets lushy."{2} At this moment, a sturdy
youth, about sixteen or seventeen years of age, was seen at a short
distance riding the runaway-ass back again. Billy perceiving this,
became a little more reconciled to his rough usage--swore he never would
strike a voman, so help him G----d, for that he was a man every inch of
him; and as for Mother Mapps, he'd be d----nd-if he vouldn't treat her
with all the pleasure of life; and now he had got his own ass, he vould
go along with her for to find her mackarel. Then shaking a cloud of
brick-dust from the dry parts of his apparel, with sundry portions of
mud from those parts which had most easily reached the kennel, he took
the bridle of his donkey, and bidding her come along, they toddled{3}
together to a gin-shop in Shoe Lane.

1 Flat-catching--Is an expression of very common use, and
seems almost to explain itself, being the act of taking
advantage of any person who appears ignorant and
unsuspicious.

2 Lushy--Drunk.

3 Toddle--To toddle is to walk slowly, either from
infirmity or choice--"Come, let us toddle," is a very
familiar phrase, signifying let us be going.

~118~~Desirous of seeing an end to this bit of gig--"Come along," said
Sparkle, "they'll all be in prime twig presently, and we shall have some
fun.

"I'm the boy for a bit of a bobbery,
Nabbing a lantern, or milling a pane;
A