Uncle Silas

as related by one who had heard it told - and therefore I venture to narrate what at the moment I neither saw nor suspected. While I sat, flushed and nervous, upon a flat stone by th

shily-equipped young man, with large, light whiskers, a jerry hat, green cutaway coat with gilt buttons, and waistcoat and trousers rather striking than elegant in pattern. He was smoking a short pipe, and made a

alon; but my friend, she wait outside the churchyard, byside the l

s morning," said the gay man, and spat on the ground; "and I wis

. Slim waist, wite teeth, vary nice eyes - dark - wa

miled le

smok

Dud, with a

ing and play - she h

another in

d flowers. Hang her! there's a scarecrow as sings at Curl's Divan. Such

pe was out, and he co

ide. You will walk down th

o, nohow, to buy a pig in a poke, you know.

th a patois ejacul

se will not be so 'ard to pl

?" said the young man, with a shrewd uneasy g

an," replied the lady, with a teazi

me to stay here listening to you. Speak out, can't you? T

! I supp

ou tell me as how the lass is kep' private up there, and will be till you're done educating her - a precious good 'un that

, but looked r

. I don't want a wife on my back for a while. There's no fellow marries till he's took his bit o' fun, and seen life - is there! And why should I be driving with her to fai

ys sensible. So I and my friend we will walk home again,

look at the girl? Why, you know that's just what I come here for - don't you? Only when I think a bit, and a notion comes across me, why shouldn't I speak ou

as a dist

d the corner. No o

d you only look at her, you know,

lass, good-bye," and he shook her hand. "And, do ye see, don't ye come up till I pass, for I'm no hand at play-acting; an' if you called me 'sir,' or was com

sly by rail, travelling in a third-class carriage, for the advantage of Jack Briderly's compan

and Madame walked forth into the open space among the graves, where I might have

an in the green cutaway coat, sucking his cane, and eyeing me with an offensive

in, and apparently restored to her right mind. The last beams of the sun were by this time touching the uplands, and I was longing to recommence our walk home. I was hesitating about calli

he green coat returned, approachi

a glove close by here.

a little, and looking, I dare sa

'a dropped it close

r," I r

but you're sure y

to grow seriousl

; it's only a bit o' chaff

e, Madame," and added, "She's as deaf as a tombstone, or she'll hear that. Gi'e her my com

sandwiches, commending them every now and then to me. But I had been too muc

w?" said Madame, who knew everyth

llys," I

odd name! She is ver

ifty, I

vary old, then

She has a place

one of your English

to you twice since you came;" and I gabbled through th

course, cheaile. And

first

nt-a me, pray? -

le with titles, as perhaps foreigners would if titles

inly,

ll not

h

this point. But it is a world of disappointment, influenza, and rheumatics; and next mornin

could not raise her head.

e, dear, will Lad

ew days,

rrow I shall be better. Ouah! my

nded, and Madame buried her head in her