Then,—a new name, a new life, and Violet mine, there will yet be chance of happiness in the future!"

And he journeyed towards London.

248

CHAPTER X.

TIME FLIES.

THERE is a certain

well-understood

though unexpressed convention, by virtue of which the world is bound to Jokes upon

laugh at specific subjects.

these are constantly "kept standing," as the printers call it, conveniently for the immediate use of the jester, never slow to avail himself of the advantage; for for as necessary as air to ordinary and unjocose people, is laugh

ter to the jester; and he obtain it surely by an old

prefers to

and well

trod road, rather than risk missing it on a path but newly discovered, however pleasant and inviting otherwise. There is often a doubt about the bran

new coin-a golden egg, if I may so say, fresh laid by the Mint-it is suspicious-looking, it may be bad, it is so much brighter than usual; the thin well-thumbled, dull-shining sovereign, years in circulation, is infinitely preferred. And it is the same with jests the old are honoured with the established laughter; the new questioned, and their payment in grins frequently refused.

are

It seems to me (though of course it is too late in the day to say so now with view to any alteration) that some of these subjects are rather ill

chosen ; are not really so provocative of honest mirth as the jesters would have us believe; have a sericus and sometimes painful side, which might fairly exempt them in a great measure from the sallies and rallies of the facetious. Let me mention a few of the topics upon which the gentlemen with the caps and bells rely

the

incessant

for

bringing down of the mirth

and applause of their audience.

Widows- Bishops - Impecuniosity Love-letters.

on

These four will do: though though of course there are many more behalf of which and in deprecation of cachinnation much might be urged; and even for all these I do not feel absolutely bound to enter the lists. I am not a Widow, nor

am

I a

Bishop.

Perhaps I should only damage the cause of either by defending it; perhaps they are both strong enough to take care of themselves. For the Widow I will only say that, as a rule, I have found her situation to be more forlorn than facetious; while as to the Bishop, I could never for the life of me discover from a lay point of view any particular funniness about him-a comfortable and respectable dignitary, no doubt; but what does the community see to laugh at in that fact? I know not. Yet turn to

the comic books:

have been cracked

able heads of the

how many
many jokes

upon the vener

spiritual lords?

It is past all counting. For Im

pecuniosity, let me confess that on

occasions, when I

have found my