"No, thankee, mum; thankee kindly all the
same. So, this is the babby I've heard on?
Well, now, I don't know as I ever set eyes on
a much prettier kid than that 'ere!"

I began somehow to like the man better.

"He is considered pretty, Mr. Brooser."

"He's better than pretty; he's musc'lar.
Wot's beauty to bone? Bless his little fistes!
Now, lookee, that's good fiber. If there was
infant veights, I'd stand a pony on that wery
fiber, and I'd land it, easy. But, as I was saying,
this Novice o' hourn, his in——"

"I am sure, Mr. Brooser, you will find it
very dull waiting for my husband. Would you
not prefer taking a little walk in the iron-works,
and coming back when you're tired?"

"Thankee, mum, I never was tired," said the
obstinate man.

"You are quite sure you'd rather not go
out?"

"Well, no, mum. To tell you the truth, you
are so kind to me, a real lady, that's what you
are," said Mr. Brooser, looking at me critically,
with his head on one side, as if examining a
curiosity; " and it's so seldom a rough chap like
me gets welcomed to a droring-room and made
s' much of, that, if it don't ill-conwenience the
party present, I'd rather stop here. I know
they're bellering for me down yonder at Brynmaur,
but I ain't in the humour for a spar. Let
'em belier. A man can't be always a punching
of heads. I wish he could! Now, here's
the pint what we have to consider. About this
'ere Nov—"

"I am sure my husband will be rejoiced to
find you here, Mr. Brooser," said I, a feeling of
despair coming over me, " but I fear he will be
somewhat late. We dined early, and I am
now going to tea. Of course you don't take
tea?"

I give the excellent champion the highest
credit for having succeeded in banishing from his
broad face every token of that disgust which
must have possessed his soul at the mention of
the beverage.

Mr. Brooser replied, with astonishing mildness,
that he did not habitually take tea. That
he had indeed tried it, with a toss of the best
brandy for to give it a flavour. But, forasmuch
as folks with strong stomachs seemed not to
mind it, and he himself had no objection to look
on, he would, if it wasn't a liberty, join me at
the teaboard.

Of course I acceded, for, in spite of his rough
uncouth manner, there was a natural politeness
about the man that pleased me, and rendered my
efforts to play the hostess much easier. I
ordered Benjamin to place wine and spirits on
the table, and we were about to sit down, when
our neighbour, Mr. Augustus Littler, put his
head in at the door. He started when his eye
fell on my colossal companion, and seemed half
disposed to retreat.

Mr. Brooser saw his hesitation.

"Perhaps," he said, " the gentleman is timid-like.
Walk in, sir."

I hastened to confirm Mr. Brooser's invitation,
and added, that this was Mr. Brooser, of
whom he must have heard.

"Well," said Mr. Brooser, in a half-aside, "I
have seen a bigger, and now here's a Littler!
'Do, sir?" continued the champion, standing
about ten feet from Augustus, leaning very
forward, and presenting his tremendous hand, a
portion of which Augustus accepted and tried to
shake, but couldn't.

At the repast which followed, Mr. Brooser
was persuaded to take a glass of port wine and
a biscuit. He was evidently on his very best
behaviour, and determined to comport himself in
accordance with the most approved drawing-room
traditions. He was easy and conversational,
and appeared for the moment to forget
even the Novice.

"Thankee, mum, another glass, since you are
so pressing. Towards your health. Likewise,
Mr. Littler, I looks at you. This 'ere's good
swizzle."

I shall not attempt to recal the whole
conversation. Professional topics were, by
mutual consent, avoided, and the champion
might have passed for a harmless traveller who
had never seen a doubled fist in his life.

One circumstance I must record. Mr. Brooser
wore on one of his mighty fingers a gold ring of
proportionate dimensions, which somehow
attracted my attention. Aware of this, the
champion exhibited the ornament so obtrusively,
that, to be civil, I begged to examine it more
closely.

The ring was tight, and the process of detaching
it ingenious. Mr. Brooser first wetted his
finger with the tip of his tongue, then, taking a
dessert-knife, insinuated it beneath the hoop,
and fairly prized it off. That effected, with a
degree of delicacy I had not expected, he filliped
the ring once or twice along the hearth-rug, that
it might dry, and finally presented it to me in a
tablespoon, as if it had been an oyster.

It had a device of two individuals, with little
round bodies, crowned with little round heads,
fighting.

"That," observed Mr. Brooser, in explanation,
"is the device of the Qui Quæ Quums."

"The what?"

"The Qui—Quæ—Quums," repeated my
guest, slowly and distinctly. " You would ask
me who they ayre. That you can't know,"
continued Mr. Brooser, about to wink, but stopping
himself cleverly, " till you're 'nitiated. We
meets once a week, a whole lot of us. We
dine together. Ladies goes in the gallery. Her
most loyal Majesty— "

"The Queen, sir!" cried Mr. Littler, his
surprise overcoming his shyness. " Do you mean
that her Majesty—"

"If you hadn't countered so quick, sir,"
replied the champion, "you would have heard me
remark that the Queen's Majesty, God bless her,
is always the first toast of the Qui Quæ Quums.
We elect by ballot. I've just proposed the
Nov—By-the-by, what's a good thing for
the insi——"

"What a very odd name, Mr. Brooser, the