The barber turned from Tangie to take a vi done upon Blast, gravely observing, as he eyed the blood—“ Not the child's fault, sir. Never cut before in his life; never. 66 'Well, it's no use a stifling it," cried Blast; and gently putting Tim aside, he flung himself back in the chair, and roared a laugh, all the louder and the deeper for its long repression. Tangle looked round. Most strange, nay, most insulting was it to himto him with the load of affliction weighing on his brain-that any man should laugh so vehemently, so very brutally. On his way to the barber's Tangle had felt a little hurt that even the birds should chirp and twitter; that the flowers in the gardens should look so happy in their brightness; the very fineness of the day seemed unkind to him: nevertheless he tried to bear it like a man. But to have his solemn thoughts, deep as they were in a lost money-chest, outraged by the vulgar merriment of a very vulgar man,—it was cruel, barbarous; surely he had done nothing to deserve it. 66 'It's very odd," said Tangle, speaking both angrily and sorrowfully, "very odd that a gentleman can't be quietly shaved without people❞— said Blast. 66 "Ax your pardon,' Hope the barber's not nicked you; but I couldn't help it. You know what a little will make a man laugh sometimes. All right now I've got rid of it. Go on, little shaver. I'll keep a cheek as stiff as a mile-stone.' And Mr. Blast resolved to control his merriment, sorely tempted as it was by the proximity of the melancholy man he had plundered. It was a most capital joke, a most provoking piece of fun, yet would the thief be serious. For some seconds not a sound was heard, save the mowing of beards. 66 Sich a glory!" "Well, Measter Rasp, here be a rumpus! here be a blow for the Blues! here be luck for the Yellows! Ho! ho! ho! There never was sich a mess. I ha'nt laughed so much since they put the tinker in the stocks! This announcement, brokenly uttered through roars of laughter, was delivered by Skittle, the cobbler of Liquorish, who, exploding with the intelligence, burst into the shop. "What's the matter?" asked the barber, so alive to the luck of the Yellows, of which party he felt himself a very shining particle, that he paused in his shaving; holding twixt finger and thumb the nose of Tangle. "Luck for our side, Bob! What is it ? " "Why you must know that the Blues-jest like 'em-brought down a box of golden guineas. You know, in course, what for?" observed the cobbler, severely winking one eye. "I should think I did," answered Rasp, and he stropped his razor on his hand very impatiently. That's the way they 66 |