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but the farmer calling off his dog, which retired growling into the garden, Watchet relinquished his hold, and stepped into the house, followed by the Mayor and the two magistrates. The party being seated, and the clerk having placed himself at a table, upon which he had deposited an inkstand with papers and a minute-book, Watchet was about to begin the examination in due form, when he suggested that the junior children, who were huddled up in a corner of the room staring at the visitants, should be previously removed, lest they should interrupt the proceedings by their noise.

"What! d'ye mean Bill, and Sal, and Bessy ?" inquired the mother-" Lors love ye, Lawyer Watchet, they be the quietest chillern in all England, when my gaffer dwon't spwile 'em. They'll be as silent as if they were listening to a sarment. Sal, you worky your sampler, or else I'se gee summat ye 'on't ax me vor. Bill, and Bessy, tha first o' ye that speaks aught shall ha' a snock upon tha snowl, zo mind what I do zay to ye."

Awed by this threat, the youngsters put on their most serious looks, and conducted themselves in a very decorous and orderly manner during the first part of the examination, until Sally, who was more intent upon Sir Halsewell's fine wig and laced coat than her work, suddenly uttered a shrill cry, followed by the exclamation of, "O Lockadaisy! deary me! I ha' run tha niddle smack into my vinger, and tha blood be beskummer'd all over tha sampler."

Remedies being quickly applied to this slight wound by the scolding and yet anxious mother, the child was pacified, and the investigation proceeded for some time without other interruption than occasional remarks of no very complimentary nature from Watchet, who because the deponents, frightened into a strict adherence to veracity, would not confirm any of the ridiculous stories that had become current, suspected them of shuffling, and sought to elicit additional facts by multiplying questions, and threatening all the penalties of the law against prevaricators. Hitherto the young folks, surprised by the no

velty and serious nature of the proceedings into a hushed observation, had been remarkably wellbehaved; but as this inpression wore off, they began first to play, and then to quarrel with one another in so audible a manner, that Watchet, who was a very consequential and fussy little personage, insisted upon their being turned out of the room.

"Lors love ye!" cried the mother, "dwon't ye be so begrumpled, tward'n but a little rumpus they made, and chillern will be forween'd now and tan." Turning towards the offenders with an angry look, she continued, "Dwon't make thic noise, tell ye; why cas'n't 'have yoursels? Ye were quiet enow yesterday all the time Meg was a reading tha Bible to your gramfer."

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Ees, mother," cried Bill sulkily, cause ye gee us zome cawld apple dumpling."

"Sim to me ye be always a munching," said Madge, who, as she really spoilt her children, though she accused her husband of the same mismanagement, went to a cupboard, took out

some remains of the before-mentioned edible, and set them before the youngsters with a horn of milk and water, threatening them with severe punishment if they gave any farther cause of offence. Once more the examination proceeded, undisturbed except by Madge herself, who, instead of replying to some critical question, would now and then turn to the juvenile party and exclaim," Billy, dwon't ye gulch your vittles so vast, there's a good bwoy ! Sal! castn't drink athout guddling o' thic fashion. Bessy! dwon't make sich a smashing and smacking;eat'n up in a jiffey, tell ye, or ye 'on't adood avore Kirsmas." Watchet, impatient as he was at these instances of disrespect towards his own dignity and that of his august clients, submitted to them with tolerable patience, until himself and his magisterial friends, and indeed the whole company, were startled by a piercing shriek from Billy, followed by a loud blubbering exclamation of "Oh la! Oh la! O my! O my! I've bit my tongue!"

Even Madge seemed now convinced that no

farther compromise could be expected, and she therefore huddled the urchins out of the apartment as fast as she could, Billy roaring all the while, and keeping his mouth wide open, to the display of its unmasticated contents, as if he had made up his mind never to renew the operation of chewing at the risk of mistaking his tongue for apple dumpling. On the mother's re-appearance, the proceedings were brought to a close, the depositions were finished, and the visitants, the most unwelcome that had ever crossed the threshold of the farm, returned to their carriage. Disappointed as they were that the more marvellous and alarming portion of the rumours should be refuted by the statement of the Chervils, it was agreed nem. con. that there were still abundant grounds for apprehending the supposed delinquent, which they accordingly determined to do as soon as they should have reinforced themselves with all the constables they could collect, no smaller array being deemed adequate to the peril of summoning one of the strong-holds of Popery. These being procured, the whole pro

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