But to pay such a price for a scratch-back!--Prodigal! Come along." As the friends strolled on, naturally enough all the young girls who wished for ribbons, and were possessed of scratch-backs, followed in their wake.

Scratch went the instrument, but in vain.
"Lasses," said the elder, turning sharply upon them his nose in the air, "ribbons are plentiful,--shillings scarce; and kisses, though pleasant in private, are insipid in public.

What, still! Beware! know that, innocent as we seem, we are women-eaters; and if you follow us farther, you are devoured!" So saying, he expanded his jaws to a width so preternaturally large, and exhibited a row of grinders so formidable, that the girls fell back in consternation.

The friends turned down a narrow alley between the booths, and though still pursued by some adventurous and mercenary spirits, were comparatively undisturbed as they threaded their way along the back of the booths, and arrived at last on the village-green, and in front of the Great Stage.
"Oho, Lionel!" quoth the elder friend; "Thespian and classical,--worth seeing, no doubt." Then turning to a grave cobbler in leathern apron, who was regarding with saturnine interest the motley figures ranged in front of the curtain as the Drumatis Persona, he said, "You seem attracted, sir; you have probably already witnessed the performance." "Yes," returned the Cobbler; "this is the third day, and to-morrow's the last.

I are n't missed once yet, and I sha' n't miss; but it are n't what it was a while back." "'That is sad; but then the same thing is said of everything by everybody who has reached your respectable age, friend.