LETTER IX. WHEN Lord N. was well enough to be taken out an airing, he went one morning with his mamma and sister, attended by Mrs. Pegg, in the landau, and was standing up by his mamma's side looking over the carriage, when it stopped so suddenly as to throw him off his balance, with a violence that might have been fatal, had not Mrs. Pegg's arm been ready to receive him. The coachman at the same moment called loudly to some one to get out "No," replied the per of the way. son spoken to, "I will not get out of "the way. Yoù may ride over me, 66 you may trample me to death — but "I will not stir till my lady promises "to speak to me." Lady N. stood up, and on looking out perceived a little boy kneeling in the middle of the highway, which was in that part only just sufficiently wide for the carriage. She called out to know who it was. "It is little Tom "the stable-boy, please Your Ladyship," said the coachman; "he was "turned away yesterday morning by "Your Ladyship's orders." "I gave no such orders," said Lady "let the boy come here to speak "to me." N.; "Bless me," cried Mrs. Pegg, "I "dare say Mr. Ditto (the steward) has mistaken me. I told him yes"terday that I was sure if Your Ladyship knew what a sad liar this little "fellow "fellow was, you would not keep him "another day about the house; but "I did not say Your Ladyship had dis"missed him- I wonder how he could "mistake me so." "I wonder so too," growled the coachman; "I never knew Mr. Ditto "make blunders, nor did little Tom 65 ever tell a fib in all his life, as I "knows of." Tom was by this time at the carriage-door, a piteous spectacle. Stripped of his livery, and having outgrown his former clothes, he had, in order to secure himself from the inclemency of the weather, fastened his old coat upon his back by bringing the sleeves round his neck, and tying them in a hard knot upon his breast, where they conveniently hung, as they now served the office of a handkerchief, in wiping the tears from his swollen eyes. Lady N. could not but compassionate the little wretch. In a mild tone she desired him to tell what he wanted, but to be sure to speak the truth, for that she could not endure any one that told lies. No, my lady, Ize never told no "lies since I was born, my lady. My "lord there can tell you it was not I, "was it, my lord? Pray tell your lady mamma; was it I that 'ticed 66 66 you out the day you fell into the "mud and dirtied all your clothes so? "and when Mrs. Pegg was so hugeous 66 angry? Do pray speak, my dear "sweet young lord, was it I? "No," said Lord N. looking wistfully up in his mother's face, "indeed, "indeed, mamma, it was not Tom's "fault." "I know not what you speak of, dear child," said Lady N. my "I said so,” cried Tom, "I said my 66 lady knew nothing of the matter, I was sure and certain, my lady, that it was all a story of Mrs. Pegg's "own making, and that you never "would have had the heart, my lady, "to order her to twist off the neck of my pretty pigeon." 66 You little abominable lying vaga"bond," said Mrs. Pegg, lifting up her voice, and casting her indignant regards on the unfortunate outcast, "what is it that you dare to say of "me?" "I say," cried Tom, agitated with fresh emotion, "I say that you said "as how that my lady said, that my "lord caught cold by following of 66 me; and that it was I that 'ticed "him into the yard, and that it was 66 by my lady's orders that you twisted "off the head of my pretty pigeon. 66 Lady Mary saw you do it; aye, "she saw you do it, and she saw you |