I then goes back to Mr. Parker, and tells him what the old woman says. But you must come now, says he. I have promised that you should. I took your word. I will make it all right with the old woman.

Sure enough he did make it right, for down he comes to the cottage next morning when I was at work, and talks to her, and makes her laugh. (i wish I could, sometimes; it would make life easier.) Then he makes her promise I shall go, and gives her half a crown for nothing at all.

When I comes home from the job I was doing, she says to me, Bill, I have made it all right with Mr. Parker, and you are to go to-night at eight o'clock to the Blue Lion parlour to keep your promise.

I know, howsoever, the missus did not feel so right as she said, for I could see clearly she was not at all happy about my going.

She says, You can't go before gents at an anni versity in a smock-frock.

I says, Why can't I? It is nearly new, and I always wears a smock-frock. Nobody would know me if I didn't.

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