an with
such force against the German, who was in the act of receiving a dish
from Sally, that, precipitating him against her, they both rolled
prostrate on the floor.

"Ah, mein Got, mein Got!" roared the German, as his face was smothered
with the hot stewed peas, a dish of which he was carrying as he fell on
his back.

"Oh, my eye, my eye!" bellowed Sally, as she rolled upon the floor.

"My wife, my wife!" reiterated Rainscourt, as he trampled over them, and
secured his retreat.

"And oh, my dinner, my dinner!" ejaculated the curate, as he surveyed
the general wreck.

"And oh, you fool, you fool, Mr Potts!" echoed the lady, with her arms
akimbo--"to ask such a man to dine with you!"

"Well, I had no idea that he could have taken it so much to _heart_,"
replied the curate meekly.

But we must follow Rainscourt, who--whether really agitated by the
circumstance, or, aware that it would be bruited abroad, thought that a
display of agitation would be advisable--proceeded with hurried steps to
the promenades, where he glided through the thoughtless crowd with the
silent rapidity of a ghost. Having sufficiently awakened the curiosity
of the spectators, he sank down on one of the most retired benches, with
his eyes for some time thrown up in contemplation of the fleecy clouds,
beyond which kind spirits are supposed to look down, and weep over the
follies and inconsistencies of an erring world. Casting his eyes to
earth, he beheld--horror upon horrors--the detested bullock's heart,
which his great Polygar dog had seized during the confusion of the
dinner scene, and had followed him out with it in his mouth. Finding it
too hot to carry immediately after its seizure, he had, for a time, laid
it down, and had just arrived with it. There he was, not a foot from
the bench, his jaws distended with the prize, tossing up his head as if
in mockery of his master, and wagging his long, feathered tail.

Rainscourt again made a precipitate retreat to his own lodgings,
accompanied by the faithful animal, who, delighted at the unusual
rapidity of his master's movements, bounded before him with his
treasure, of which he was much too polite to think of making a repast
until a more seasonable opportunity. Rainscourt knocked at the door--as
soon as it was opened, the dog bounced up before him, entering the
chamber of woe, and crouching under the table upon which the golden urn
was placed with the heart between his paws, saluted hi