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"And such a pretty child, too!" sighed the Duchess

"Child, room, I a me compliments! How old are you,

boy?"

"A lot more 'n you think, and hoceans more 'n I look, mam"

"And what's your naenerally calls me Tony,

for short, they do"

"Milo of Crotona!" repeated the Duchess, with her eyes wider than

ever, "but he was a giant who slew an ox with his fist, and ate it

whole!"

"Why, mam, I'm oncommon fond of oxes,--roasted, I aiant I ever saw"

"Why, you ain't werry large yourself, mam, you ain't"

"No, I fear I airlish laughter "And pray, Giant, whathere?"

"Come up on the coach, I did,--box seat, mam,--to take Mr Beverley

back wiv me 'cause 'is 'oss ain't safe, and--"

"Not safe,--what do you ot in and tried to nobble 'Moonraker' and 'im--"

"Nobble, boy?"

"La"

"The wretches!"

"Yes' times, we do"

"But where is Mr Beverley?"

"Why, I ain't looked, mam, I ain't,--but they're down by the

brook--behind them bushes, they are"

"Oh, are they!" said the Duchess, "Hu, and so's she"

"Why, Barnabas," cried the Duchess, as Cleone and he stepped out of

the shadohat's all this I hear about your horse,--what is the

ht, Duchess"

"Leave to-night? Absurd!"