Keep a little behind, very little; that will do.

Ay, that will do," repeated Long Ned, mutteringly to himself; "they'll take him for a bailiff.

It looks handsome nowadays to be so attended; it shows one had credit once!" Meanwhile Paul, though by no means pleased with the contempt expressed for his personal appearance by his lengthy associate, and impressed with a keener sense than ever of the crimes of his coat and the vices of his other garment,--"Oh, breathe not its name!"-- followed doggedly and sullenly the strutting steps of the coxcombical Mr.Pepper.

That personage arrived at last at a small tavern, and arresting a waiter who was running across the passage into the coffee-room with a dish of hung-beef, demanded (no doubt from a pleasing anticipation of a similar pendulous catastrophe) a plate of the same excellent cheer, to be carried, in company with a bottle of port, into a private apartment.

No sooner did he find himself alone with Paul than, bursting into a loud laugh, Mr.Ned surveyed his comrade from head to foot through an eyeglass which he wore fastened to his button-hole by a piece of blue ribbon.
"Well, 'gad now," said he, stopping ever and anon, as if to laugh the more heartily, "stab my vitals, but you are a comical quiz.