while you gave him this drubbing? did you leave them in the dirt?"

"No, Mr Nincompoop," answered Briggs angrily, "I put them on a stall."

"That was a perilous expedient, Sir," said Mr Gosport, "and I should
fear might be attended with ill consequences, for the owner of the
stall would be apt to expect some little _douceur_. How did you
manage, Sir?"

"Bought a halfpenny worth of apples. Serve for supper to-morrow
night."

"But how, Sir, did you get your cloaths dried, or cleaned?"

"Went to an alehouse; cost me half a pint."

"And pray, Sir," cried Morrice, "where, at last, did you make your
toilette?"

"Sha'n't tell, sha'n't tell; ask no more questions. What signifies
where a man slips on a coat and waist-coat?"

"Why, Sir, this will prove an expensive expedition to you," said Mr
Gosport, very gravely; "Have you cast up what it may cost you?"

"More than it's worth, more than it's worth", answered he pettishly
"ha'n't laid out so much in pleasure these five years."

"Ha! ha!" cried Morrice, hallowing aloud, "why it can't be more than
sixpence in all!"