Chico Williams - The Ups and Downs of Life

The gardener laughed and went away.

The swinging went on gaily, and ere many minutes our climax came. Most delightful was the novelty of the whole romp, and I do believe I might have had them all if I liked; but, unfortunately, just then the rope broke, and down we came to the ground. I was a good deal shaken, but I saved the girl from getting hurt.

We therefore now ran into the wood for a game at hide and seek; but, lo! just as we had all dispersed to find the hider, who should I behold coming down one of the avenues but — my wife!

I doubted not but she had found out everything, and plunged headlong into the wood; at length I reached a hedge, squeezed myself through an opening in it, and ran home at full speed.

There would be a scene of course, but I felt it was better it should take place at my house than before so many witnesses. Nothing could have been more unlucky, as it completely spoiled our sport.

I will not inflict on the reader an account of the row that ensued. Suffice to say that the boy Dick, clever as I thought him, went and told his father the injunctions I had given him about my being at Winchester. He also showed the old man the present I had made him. The gardener was a married man with daughters as well as sons. He saw me swinging with one of the young ladies in my lap (happily, he saw no more), and the rascal then went and told Augusta all he had learnt and seen.

She immediately divined the whole plot, and hence her sudden appearance on the festive scene. As to the ladies who kept the school, she rated them in no measured terms for their imprudence in allowing a rake like me such licence.

After this escapade, I could no longer remain in Hampshire, so packed my portmanteau, and was once more a gentleman at large in London.

One day I was going down Regent Street, when I met …

(The narrative here abruptly terminates, and as far as it has been possible to ascertain, itwould appear that the writer died shortly after; at all events he was never seen alive again by anyof his numerous acquaintance. — Ed.)