“Will er plase to walk in, sir?” said Mrs. Bumpkin.

By this time the master had got up from his seat, and advancing towards the youth said:—

“How do, sir; how do, sir; wark in, wark in, tak a seat, I be glad to see thee.”

“I come from Mr. Prigg,” said the youth, “and we want another affidavit.”

“Hem!” said Bumpkin, “be it a pig or a eifer, sir?” He couldn’t forget the old joke.

“We want an affidavit of documents,” said the youth.

“And what be the manin o’ that?—affiday o’ what?”

“Documents, sir,” said the mild youth; “here it is.”

“Oh,” said Bumpkin, “I got to swear un, I spoase, that’s all.”

“That’s it, sir,” said Horatio.