I wish you may know what gentlemanly tricks are."

"I wish to Heaven you had pulled it out," replied Miss Macdonald; "I could not think what hard, crumpled-up thing I was sitting on."

"You may well say it is crumpled up," retorted her antagonist, displaying his garment; "I wonder who the devil crumpled it. And how do you suppose that I am to walk through Prince's Street with this runkled rag behind me ?"

"I can easily give you a remedy for the runkles," said the pacific Mrs Barton; "take a hot poker, and draw your coat-tails slightly over it, and I will answer for it, there will be no runkle to be seen in them. I often do that to the tails of Mr Barton's coats."

The old gentleman, who could willingly have taken a red-hot poker to the whole company, did not deign a reply; and the rest of the journey was completed in solemn silence.

"Call a coach," exclaimed the old

tleman when they stopped at the office.

gen

"Yes, sir," said a porter, who imagined this order was given to him, when, in fact, it was intended for the driver, who had already obeyed it; in consequence of which, two coaches drove up at the same moment. "This is your coach, sir," said the driver, as the one he had called approached.

"The gentleman ordered me to call a coach," said the porter, as he approached with another.

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Step in here," said the first coachman. "No, sir; in here," said the second. "I don't want two coaches," roared the old gentleman.

"I'll swear," screamed one," you bid me call a coach, and you shall pay for it."

"Either pay our hire, or take our coaches," roared the enraged sons of the whip. My payment," resounded from one side; My coach," from another.

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"A squabble! a squabble!" bawled a num

ber of school-boys, whom the noise had collected together.

"That's a queer one!" said a dandy, stopping to see the end of the affray.

"Drive off your dirty hacks," exclaimed a powdered puppy, from the dicky of a handsome travelling carriage," and make room for your betters to pass."

"Drive to the devil!" cried the old gen. tleman, rushing into the first coach that came in his way, "and let me get out of this din and riot." And leaving the porter and coachman to look for their money where they could find it, he drove to his agent's.

But who can picture his dismay, when, on reaching Mr Blowthecoal's, and ordering the coachman to carry his portmanteau into the house, the latter declared he had never seen it. "What is to be done?" he exclaimed, almost frantic with passion; "I ought not to have lost sight of it-it is all owing to these confounded coachmen. I could swear I saw one of the fellows lift it just as I was stepping in. If there is law,

or justice in Scotland, I'll have them hung for it-they have stolen my property!"

The noise of this dispute soon reached Mr Blowthecoal, and drew him to the spot. "I'm glad you have come," he exclaimed, on seeing the old gentleman; "I almost despaired of you, 'tis so long after the hour you appointed. But had we not better go into the house ?" he continued, on observing they were attracting considerable observation; "I suppose you have brought your papers with you. I shall step in and send one of the young men out for them."

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My papers are lost!" exclaimed his client in despair; "I know I had them when I arrived in town; but where they are now, the devil only knows. I suppose some of these wretches have stolen them, but they shall not be lost papers to me."

"Do pray step into the house," replied his friend, on observing that his vehemence was beginning to collect a crowd about them, "till I inquire into this matter; but there is another carriage driving up; have you any

one with you? I expected no one but yourself."

"That is my portmanteau," he exclaimed, as the carriage stopped, "give it me this moment."

"We shan't part with it," said the porter and coachman in a breath, " till we are paid for bringing it here."

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Upon my word," said Mr Blowthecoal, "one would think our cause already gained by your driving in such style-a coach for yourself and another for your portmanteau is a little too much; but here, Inkhorn," said he, calling to his clerk, "settle with these fellows, and bring that portmanteau into my private room." And the man of law and his client disappeared from the view of the diverted populace.