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94 The door was opened to them by an elderly lady, and Clifford stalking before his companions into an apartment at the back of the house, asked if the other gentlemen were come yet.

"No!" returned the dame. "Old Mr. Bags came in about ten minutes ago; but hearing more work might be done, he went out again."

"Bring the lush and the pipes, old blone!" cried Ned, throwing himself on a bench; "we are never at a loss for company!"

"You, indeed, never can be, who are always inseparably connected with the object of your admiration," said Tomlinson drily, and taking up an old newspaper. Ned, who though choleric was a capital fellow, and could bear a joke on himself, smiled, and drawing forth a little pair of scissors, began trimming his nails.

"Curse me," said he after a momentary silence, "if this is not a devilish deal pleasanter than playing the fine gentleman in that great room with a rose in one's button-hole! What say you, Master Lovett?"