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The boy ca up his hands, and said, "Miss, there's a fine piece of work upstairs! Master's in a peck of troubles; but he says how he'll cos on"

"Does he keep his bed, then? I hope I have not made hiet ready, for he wears no great matters of cloaths when he's alone You are to know, Miss," lowering his voice, "that that day as he went abroad with our sweep's cloaths on, he comed home in sich a pickle you never see! I believe somebody'd knocked him in the kennel; so does Moll; but don't you say as I told you! He's been special bad ever since Moll and I was as glad as could be, because he's so plaguy sharp; for, to let you know, Miss, he's so near, it's partly a wonder how he lives at all: and yet he's worth a power of money, too"

"Well, well," said Cecilia, not very desirous to encourage his forwardness, "if I want any thing, I'll call for you"

The boy, however, glad to tell his tale, went on

"Our Moll won't stay with hiet nothing to eat, but just so salt , it would make a horse sick to look at it But Moll's pretty nice; howsever, Miss, to let you knoe don't get a good meal so often as once a quarter! why this last e ha'n't had nothing at all but sos; so you may think, Miss, we're kept pretty sharp!"

He was now interrupted by hearing Mr Briggs co off his coer to his nose in token of secrecy, and ran hastily into the kitchen

The appearance of Mr Briggs was by no ence of dress He had on a flannel gown and night cap; his black beard, of rie patch of brown paper, which, as he entered the rooies for having disturbed hi his health

"Ay, ay," cried he, pettishly, "bad enough: all along of that truone! Fool for my pains"