The excellent Joseph Naylor, who was never seen to smile, and who was popularly supposed to sleep in his black frock-coat and high stock, once met Tom on a platform.

When Tom was introduced to the prim, beneficent Joseph his enthusiasm overcame him; he brought his colossal paw down on Mr.Naylor's shoulder so that the poor man showed signs of shutting up like a concertina inside the frock-coat; he squeezed Joseph's hand so fervently that the poor victim looked like a dentist's patient, and Thomas roared like an amiable Bull of Bashan, "Bah! Aw'm glad to see this day, sir.

To think we should meet at last! Ah! fahscinating!--oh! fahscinating." Mr.Naylor bore the shock like a true philosopher, but at home that evening he mildly observed, "My dear, our new ally, Mr.Lennard, is most friendly, most cordial, quite impressively cordial; but do you know I should not like to sign a cheque just now.

His cordiality has had distinct effect on my joints, and I wish really that his left hand were lighter.

Social intercourse can only be carried on with difficulty when you feel as if a large sack had fallen on you from the third floor of a warehouse." The good Joseph always drew back with a timid air of maidenly modesty when Tom approached him, and I quite sympathize with this bashfulness.
It has never been my fortune to exchange courtesies with a large and healthy polar bear, so I cannot describe the operation, but I should imagine that Tom's salute would aid one's imagination.
This delightful rough diamond called on Miss Dearsley to choose the lee side, and then he addressed himself to a superb young fellow who was leaning against the wainscot, and easily following the pitching of the ship.