"'I don't doubt it,' sais I; 'seein' that your department
have advanced or rewarded so many colonists already.'
But I don't think he heard that shot, and I warn't sorry
for it; for it's not right to be a pokin' it into a
perlite man, is it?

"'I must tell the Queen that story of _the Gander Pulling_,'
sais he; 'I like it amazingly. It's a capital caricature.
I'll send the idea to H. B. Pray name some day when you
are disengaged; I hope you will give me the pleasure of
dining with me. Will this day fortnight suit you?'

"'Thank you,' sais I, 'I shall have great pleasure.'

"He railly was a gentlemany man that. He was so good
natured, and took the joke so well, I was kinder sorry
I played it off on him. I hante see'd no man to England
I affection so much as Mr. Tact, I swear! I begin to
think, arter all, it was the right of _sarchin' vessels_
he wanted to talk to me about, instead of _sarchin' me_,
as I suspicioned. It don't do always _to look for motives,
men often act without any_. The next time, if he axes
me, I'll talk plain, and jist tell him what I _do_ think;
but still, if he reads that riddle right, he may larn a
good deal, too, from the story of "the Gander Pulling,"
mayn't he?"