The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 328: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE STEAM PACKET, 255 “Tran after you all the way from the ball-room, and fell over that confounded precipice without knowing that I was near one,” answered Mr. Pifpaf. ~ “ Yes—and I may thank heaven that you did not break my back,” returned the tailor; * for I can’t say that you are as skilful in spring- ing down upon a man, as a harlequin in a pantomime. But here we are—in as nice a pickle as a foreman who has lost the cash- box, and has got to pay the journeymen at the public-house on a Saturday night.” ‘* It would seem as if we had found our way into a farm-yard,” ob- served Mr. Pifpaf, glancing anxiously around him, for the moon was high and bright in the heavens, upon which not a cloud was to be _ seen. “<1 wish we hadn’t tumbled upon such a foul corner of the domain,” said the tailor. ‘‘ This dung-hill must be beneath a precipice at least twenty feet high ; and if we can’t manage to get back by the same road, we shall have to beat all around the premises for an easier method of exit. That will be by no means agreeable—especially as I hear a fierce dog growling in the distance, and we also stand achance of being taken up for thieves and vagabonds.” ‘© Which is by no means a pleasant prospect, my lord,” said Mr. Pifpaf, considerably perplexed. ‘‘ What plan would you advise us to pursue ?” | ‘* Now, my dear sir,” replied the tailor, “if I were sitting cozily upon my board “¢ My lord!” ‘“¢ Well, on my bench—if you like it better—in the House of Lords, I could solve you any difficulty in a moment,” said Buckram; ‘‘ but while I am up to my ankles in filth, and have got anything but a bottle of lavender water under my nose, I'll be d——d if I know what to say, or do, or think—and that’s God’s truth.” ‘*¢ Might I inquire of your lordship,” said Mr. Pifpaf, after a mo- ment’s pause, during which he was perplexing his mind what plan to adopt,—‘‘ might I inquire of your lordship, what made you disappear so suddenly from the refreshment room ?” << My dear sir,” answered Buckram, without an instant’s hesitation —‘I caught a glimpse of a waiter belonging to the hotel where we have put up in Boulogne: and you know that if he had breathed a word ‘to your charming family about our being there, each with a partner— although there was nothing disreputable in the assembly a - «©T understand—I understand!” interrupted the worthy chairman: then, in a lower tone, he added, as if musing with himself—“ Yes, Gomichbooks (E(0)