When we add that a few boys in smock-frocks were lying asleep on heavy packages, wool-packs, and other articles that were scattered about on heaps of straw, we have described as fully as need be the general appearance of the yard of the White Hart Inn, High Street, Borough, on the particular morning in question.
A loud ringing of one of the bells was followed by the appearance of a smart chambermaid in the upper sleeping gallery, who, after tapping at one of the doors, and receiving a request from within, called over the balustrades--'Sam!' 'Hollo,' replied the man with the white hat.
'Number twenty-two wants his boots.' 'Ask number twenty-two, vether he'll have 'em now, or vait till he gets 'em,' was the reply.
'Come, don't be a fool, Sam,' said the girl coaxingly, 'the gentleman wants his boots directly.' 'Well, you ARE a nice young 'ooman for a musical party, you are,' said the boot-cleaner.

'Look at these here boots--eleven pair o' boots; and one shoe as belongs to number six, with the wooden leg.

The eleven boots is to be called at half-past eight and the shoe at nine.

Who's number twenty-two, that's to put all the others out?
No, no; reg'lar rotation, as Jack Ketch said, ven he tied the men up.

Sorry to keep you a-waitin', Sir, but I'll attend to you directly.' Saying which, the man in the white hat set to work upon a top-boot with increased assiduity.
There was another loud ring; and the bustling old landlady of the White Hart made her appearance in the opposite gallery.
'Sam,' cried the landlady, 'where's that lazy, idle--why, Sam--oh, there you are; why don't you answer ?' 'Vouldn't be gen-teel to answer, till you'd done talking,' replied Sam gruffly.
'Here, clean these shoes for number seventeen directly, and take 'em to private sitting-room, number five, first floor.' The landlady flung a pair of lady's shoes into the yard, and bustled away.
'Number five,' said Sam, as he picked up the shoes, and taking a piece of chalk from his pocket, made a memorandum of their destination on the soles--'Lady's shoes and private sittin'-room! I suppose she didn't come in the vagin.' 'She came in early this morning,' cried the girl, who was still leaning over the railing of the gallery, 'with a gentleman in a hackney-coach, and it's him as wants his boots, and you'd better do 'em, that's all about it.' 'Vy didn't you say so before,' said Sam, with great indignation, singling out the boots in question from the heap before him.