SOMETHING ABOVE THE COMMON.
THE ABSTRACTION.
——“draws honey forth that drives men mad.”—LALLA ROOKH.
THE speakers were close under the bow-window of the inn, and as the sash was open, Curiosity herself could not help overhearing their conversation. So I laid down Mrs. Opie’s “Illustrations of Lying,”—which I had found lying in the inn window—and took a glance at the partners in the dialogue.
One of them was much older than the other, and much taller; he seemed to have grown like quick-set. The other was thick-set.
“I tell you, Thomas,” said Quickset, “you are a flat. Before you’ve been a day in London, they’ll have the teeth out of your very head. As for me, I’ve been there twice, and know what’s what. Take my advice: never tell the truth on no account. Questions is only asked by way of pumping; and you ought always to put ’em on a wrong scent.”