got, holding up a bottle of
spirit; "it used to be your favourite liquor, I've heard."

"Jack, my love," cried Mrs. Sheppard, disregarding the taunt, "come
away."

"Not I," replied Jack; "I'm too comfortable where I am. Be off!"

"Jack!" exclaimed his unhappy parent.

"Mr. Sheppard, if you please, Ma'am," interrupted the lad; "I allow
nobody to call me Jack. Do I, Bess, eh?"

"Nobody whatever, love," replied Edgeworth Bess; "nobody but me, dear."

"And me," insinuated Mrs. Maggot. "My little fancy man's quite as fond
of me as of you, Bess. Ain't you, Jacky darling?"

"Not quite, Poll," returned Mr. Sheppard; "but I love you next to her,
and both of you better than _Her_," pointing with the pipe to his
mother.

"Oh, Heavens!" cried Mrs. Sheppard.

"Bravo!" shouted Blueskin. "Tom Sheppard never said a better thing than
that--ho! ho!"

"Jack," cried his mother, wringing her hands in distraction, "you'll
break my heart!"

"Poh! poh!" returned her son; "women don't so easily break their hearts.
Do they, Bess?"

"Certainly not," replied the young lady appealed to, "especially about
their sons."

"Wretch!" cried Mrs. Sheppard, bitterly.

"I say," retorted Edgeworth Bess, with a very unfeminine imprecation, "I
shan't stand any more of that nonsense. What do you mean by calling me
wretch, Madam!" she added marching up to Mrs. Sheppard, and regarding
her with an insolent and threatening glance.

"Yes--what do you mean, Ma'am?" added Jack, staggering after her.

"Come with me, my love, come--come," cried his mother, seizing his hand,
and endeavouring to force him away.

"He shan't go," cried Edgeworth Bess, holding him by the other hand.
"Here, Poll, help me!"

Thus exhorted, Mrs. Maggot lent her powerful aid, and, between the two,
Jack was speedily relieved from all fears of being carried off against
his will. Not content with this exhibition of her prowess, the Amazon
lifted him up as easily as if he had been an infant, and placed him upon
her shoulders, to the infinite delight of the company, and the increased
distress of his mother.

"Now, let's see who'll dare to take him down," she cried.

"Nobody shall," cried Mr. Sheppard from his elevated position. "I'm my
own master now, and I'll do as I please. I'll turn cracksman, like my
father--rob old Wood--he has chests full of money, and I know where
they're kept--I'll rob him, and give the swag to you, Poll--I'll--"

Jack would have said more; but, los