In two or three minutes Kipper gave two or three sobs, shook himself like a dog who has been in the water, and, sitting up, opened his eyes, and exclaimed, "Here we are again!" He had come to himself, for he could have gone to nobody else. Then he looked at Eglantine with a curious sort of smile, which made her blush, and cried, "So you have saved my life. What reward do you expect?"
Eglantine blushed again, and the stagbeetle gave his master a gentle pinch and whispered that there had been no time to advertise their misfortune in the Gossamer Gazette, which is the official organ of Fairydom. Kipper took the hint and in a milder tone said, "Well, Eglantine, you have done me a good turn. Why did you do so?" "O! Mr. Kipper," replied the maiden; "was it not my duty?" "It is a bad habit," replied the goblin, "to try and answer one question with another, but it is an excellent but rare custom to try and repay one favour with another. Can I be of any use to you? Think before you answer." "Why should I," said Eglantine; "are you not a fellow-creature?" "A fellow-creature!" screamed Kipper. "Don't you know that I am a goblin, a mischievous goblin, a good-for-nothing goblin?" "O! no," answered Eglantine, simply; "I only know that you have the right to be made happy, as has every creature on earth." Kipper leapt to his feet. His queer little face seemed suddenly freed from wrinkles, there was something like a dew drop in each corner of his eyes. "Why, Eglantine," he shouted; "you are a perfect ——" It has never been known whether he would have added "donkey" or "angel," because at this minute a fierce trumpeting rent the air, Eglantine shrieked, the stagbeetle quivered, even Kipper turned pale, for just above them hovered a great tawny and black creature, with fierce hate in its glowing eyes: in short, Nippard the Terror of the Forest!
(To be continued.)
THE WAY THEY HAVE AT THE BAR.
(Fragment from a Romance not entirely imaginary.)
Scene—A corridor in the Royal Courts. Eminent Counsel in conversation with Estimable Solicitor and Respected Client.
Client. I am rather sorry, Sir, that you could not conduct my case in person.
Coun. So am I. I took a deal of trouble in preparing the argument I proposed to advance, and it was a great disappointment to me that I was unable to deliver it in person.
Solic. But your junior, Sir, represented you to perfection.