sworn." "Here, hand the lantern!" &c., &c.

While they debated, my friend stood close on the other side of the
wall: but now I heard him dash suddenly out, and up the lane for his
life. "There he goes!" "Stop him!" the cries broke out afresh. "Stop
him, i' the king's name!" The whole pack went pelting by, shouting,
stumbling, swearing.

For two minutes or more the stragglers continued to hurry past by
ones and twos. As soon as their shouts died away, I drew freer
breath and look'd around.

I was in a small, turfed garden, well stock'd with evergreen shrubs,
at the back of a tall house that I knew for Master Carter's. But
what puzzled me was a window in the first floor, very brightly lit,
and certain sounds issuing therefrom that had no correspondence with
my kinsman's reputation.

"It was a frog leap'd into a pool--
Fol--de--riddle, went souse in the middle!
Says he, This is better than moping in school.
With a--"

"--Your Royal Highness, have some pity! What hideous folly! Oh, dear,
dear--"

"With a fa-la-tweedle-tweedle,
Tiddifol-iddifol-ido!"

"--Your Royal Highness, I _cannot_ sing the dreadful stuff! Think of