"I sha'n't do no such a thing!" returned Dick, and walk ly away; but, looking round, and seeing a detaining hand be placed upon him, he took to his heels with amazing rapid was soon lost in the distance.

He had made considerable progress towards his destinati deed, he was not very far from Delta Villas, when it occur that his roll into the road might have tarnished his appare spection of his gossamer elicited the fact that the brim ha upward direction in front; and, on applying the corner bric handkerchief to his face, he discovered that that att bination of features had been soiled to an exigence water.

"I'll go into that little public-house," said he, "and rights. It won't do to show myself at Garton's in Cuss it, I'm precious unlucky; but it'll be all the s years hence. Cut along!"

Cheered by these philosophical stimulants, he ent and made it his request to the landlady in the bar permit him to set himself to rights. The landlady he with little apparent sympathy for the occasion of it, her that Dick Sparrow was not likely to approve hin ent. She, however, called to a girl, and bade her man into the kitchen; but presently recollecting "No, I shall want to come there myself. Take h cond floor back;"- and Dick followed his guide ushered into a room.

And here he found, after an inspection of himse a diligent scrutiny of his garments, that he had for him than he had anticipated, a job rendered from the untoward circumstance that there was

room.

"The old woman looked so precious sour, and the mixed liquors, that I shouldn't like to ask mused Dick. "Never mind; I'll rub my clothes that counterpane. No one'll be the wiser."

He now set to work in right earnest, and, his pleted, had walked into the corner for his cane, w heard a light step at the door; and, turning roun to see a female head withdrawn before the door wa

"Here's a blessed move!" said Dick, staring al if they haven't fastened me in! Thought I'd be be able to make 'em hear in a month. I'll try

He was just about to lift up his voice, and the keyhole, when a sound as of two men ascendin "They 're coming to let me out, to be sure. a girl!"

The two men halted "Well," said one," w to know is, D'ye think "To be sure he will, "Well, I'll give him one," observed the first "Good: and that take."

fore, he tied the two sheets toost, placing his foot against the

This done, he laid hold upon nd got out of the window. But at descent, he did descend with looking up with terrified amazering at the window,-a testimony ch it belonged went upon castors. almost deprived him of his wits; , he discovered that he was hangnt of the first-floor window, through decent Christians seated at the con

good gentlemen, or I shall let go, as the window was thrown up, and e arms. "Just pull me in, and I'll judgment, and there's no great harm

ted by the chairman, received a glass ained wherefore he had entered the swords that had set him upon this

tured; but their perplexity was soon rement proceeding from the chairman and

must sing," cried the chairman, when he will stick it into you by making you Vice and I wanted to fix you, and went about it; but, seeing you coming upnd-floor."

y" the Goldfinches," - for so they

little cared for. He joined in the reserving one for himself, had some duly elected a " Goldfinch," and proThis sort of relaxation was so new and l probably have forgotten Garton's al

With this the two men went down stairs, leaving the listener at the keyhole more dead than alive. Here were terribly intelligible words! Here was a frank avowal of an intention to "cook his goose!" Dick's personal courage, a small and subtle essence, disturbed by the foreign gentleman at the Lyceum, tampered with by the hackney-coachman, now evaporated altogether. Penny romances had quickened his sense of danger by revelations of roadside publichouses, where bedsteads descended through the floors, and the landlords were blood-boltered assassins. This must be one of such dens of horror,-the old house in West Street moved out of town, and set up in the public line.

"If Aunt Reddish knew what they're going to do, wouldn't she go on! Oh! that I was at home, and father jawing at me as he does when he's half sprung,-that's all."

Some such thoughts as these passed through his mind as he hurried to the window. It was no great height from the ground. There was yet a chance of escape. He had heard of such things practised successfully. He'd have a try.

Clawing off the counterpane, therefore, he tied the two sheets together, and fastened one to the bed-post, placing his foot against the bedstead to make the knot secure. This done, he laid hold upon the sheet tightly with both hands, and got out of the window. But before he had yet made any effort at descent, he did descend with terribly unexpected quickness, and, looking up with terrified amazement, there was a bed-post glimmering at the window,—a testimony that the piece of furniture to which it belonged went upon castors. And now a wild burst of laughter almost deprived him of his wits; and glancing whence it proceeded, he discovered that he was hanging suspended immediately in front of the first-floor window, through which he beheld some dozen of decent Christians seated at the convivial board.

"Don't go to chaff me, that's good gentlemen, or I shall let go, and break my neck," said Dick, as the window was thrown up, and two men caught him under the arms. "Just pull me in, and I'll tell you all. It was an error of judgment, and there's no great harm

done."

Dick being drawn in, and seated by the chairman, received a glass of rum and water, and explained wherefore he had entered the house, repeating the ominous words that had set him upon this hazardous method of escape.

The company in general stared; but their perplexity was soon relieved by obstreperous merriment proceeding from the chairman and his vice.

"After that, Perkins, you must sing," cried the chairman, when he recovered breath,-" or we will stick it into you by making you stand glasses round. Mr. Vice and I wanted to fix you, and went out of the room here to talk about it; but, seeing you coming upstairs, we moved on to the second-floor."

for so they

Dick was well laughed at by "the Goldfinches," called themselves; but that he little cared for. He joined in the laugh, dispensed his cigars, reserving one for himself, had some more rum and water, and was duly elected a "Goldfinch," and promised a weekly attendance. This sort of relaxation was so new and delightful to him that he would probably have forgotten Garton's al