pply of that universal solace. These were supported, on the
background, by a mirror of ordinary size; which presented unmistakable
signs of the household's reluctance to disturb the sacred dust of ages.
Its sides and corners had a very dingy appearance, like an opaque
coating, which left a circle in the centre of dim translucency; and from
this circumstance, a visitor might have assumed that some individual,
wishing to gratify his vanity by seeing a reflection of his own visage,
had applied his sleeve, at the same time that he exercised his arm in a
rotary motion, to remove the impediments to such vision. The lining of
boards to the room had been covered, in the general ornature, with a
gorgeous coloured paper; but no precaution had been taken to provide for
the wood's shrinking, and the consequence was that the paper had split
with the timber's contraction, and left a gap between each board it
covered. Around the walls were distributed some antique prints, such as
Queen Victoria in her gracious teens, considerably discoloured by the
application of water, in a manner in no way advantageous to her
complexion; a coloured print of the Derby in "the good old times," and
the representation of a naval conflict executed in a bold and imposing
style, with a studied disregard to perspective. The floor was covered
with a dingy half worn oil-cloth; while half a dozen men were sitting
at the table smoking, drinking, and maintaining an animated and
boisterous dialogue upon the relative merits of their horses. Such then
was the place and company in which our young friends found themselves,
and were hardly noticed as they rang the bell to attract the attention
of some one in the house. Their summons was, after a time, answered by a
bare-armed, bearded, and greasy-looking biped of the genus homo,
honoured by the confidence of the landlord, deigning to fill the post of
waiter, and, from a deformity of his person, rejoicing in the soubriquet
of "Hopping Dick."

To a request, to be shown a room which they might appropriate for the
night, the brothers were ushered into a crib leading out of the
coffee-room, and measuring about eight feet square; while on each side
of it was stationed a bed of similar dimensions to a coffin, with
appurtenances of relative magnitude. After depositing their valises and
ordering a meal, they strolled out to the stables to see that Joey had
well looked after their horses; and, upon their recal by the limping
Ga