"Polly, sir, not Porpus,--ax pardon. I shall clean myself, and I have a
butyful new cap,--Honeytun, and--"

"Let the gentleman go, will you?" said a third; "I am surprised at ye,
Polly. The kitching, unbeknown! Sir, I'm in the nussery; yes, sir; and
Alissus says you may take me any time, purvided you'll take the babby, in
the back parlour; yes, sir, No. 5 in the High Street. Mrs. Spratt,--yes,
sir. Babby has had the small-pox; in case you're a married gentleman
with a family; quite safe there; yes, sir."

Vance could endure no more, and, forgetful of that gallantry which should
never desert the male sex, burst through the phalanx with an anathema,
blackening alike the beauty and the virtue of those on whom it fell, that
would have justified a cry of shame from every manly bosom, and which at
once changed into shrill wrath the supplicatory tones with which he had
been hitherto addressed. Down the street he hurried and down the street
followed the insulted fair. "Hiss--hiss--no gentleman, no gentleman!
Aha-skulk off--do--low blaggurd!" shrieked Polly. From their counters
shop-folks rushed to their doors. Stray dogs, excited by the clamour,
ran wildly after the fugitive man, yelping "in madding bray"! Vance,
fearing to be clawed by the females if he merely walked, sure to be
bitten by the dogs if he ran, ambled on, strove to look composed, and
carry his nose high in its native air, till, clearing the street, he saw
a hedgerow to the right; leaped it with an agility which no stimulus less
preternatural than that of self-preservation could have given to his
limbs, and then shot off like an arrow, and did not stop, till, out of
breath, he dropped upon the bench in the sheltering honeysuckle arbour.
Here he was still fanning himself with his cap, and muttering
unmentionable expletives, when he was joined by Lionel, who had tarried