it. A few shillings to procure you a cravat--such as you may get of
Kentucky manufacture--I should not object to. Beyond this, however (and
the difficulty grieves me sorely), I am so perfectly incapacitated from
doing anything, that I am almost persuaded, in order to the bettering of
my own condition, to pay the customary fees, and applying to your
honorable body for the privilege of membership, procure those means of
lavish generosity which my necessity, and not my will, prevents me from
bestowing upon you."

"A very pretty idea," returned he of the road; "and under such
circumstances, your jest about the cravat from Kentucky is by no means
wanting in proper application. But the fact is, our numbers are just now
complete--our ranks are full--and the candidates for the honor are so
numerous as to leave little chance for an applicant. You might be
compelled to wait a long season, unless the Georgia penitentiary and
Georgia guard shall create a vacancy in your behalf."

"Truly, the matter is of very serious regret," with an air of much
solemnity, replied the youth, who seemed admirably to have caught up the
spirit of the dialogue--"and it grieves me the more to know, that, under
this view of the case, I can no more satisfy you than I can serve
myself. It is quite unlucky that your influence is insufficient to
procure me admission into your fraternity; since it is impossible that I
should pay the turnpike, when the club itself, by refusing me
membership, will not permit me to acquire the means of doing so. So, as
the woods grow momently more dull and dark, and as I may have to ride
far for a supper, I am constrained, however unwilling to leave good
company, to wish you a fair evening, and a long swing of fortune, most
worthy knight of the highway, and trusty representative of the Pony
Club."