"Bill, have bowels," said the operative; "you wouldn't go to lay more weight on a falling man, you know; you wouldn't disgrace your character by such a piece of iniquity as keeping an inoffensive gentleman, advanced in years, at such an unbecoming and rascally job as this. Generosity's your top virtue, Bill; not but that you have many other excellent ones, as well as that, among which, as you say yourself, I reckon industry; but still it is in generosity you _shine_. Come, Bill, honour bright, and release me."
"You're above terms, William; a generous fellow like you never thinks of terms."
"Good-bye, old gentleman!" said Bill, very coolly; "I'll drop in to see you once a month."
"No, no, Bill, you infern--a--a--you excellent, worthy, delightful fellow, not so fast; not so fast. Come, name your terms, you sland----my dear Bill, name your terms."
"And the same supply of cash as before, down on the nail here."
"Very good; very good. You're rather simple, Bill; rather soft, I must confess. Well, no matter. I shall yet turn the tab--a--hem! You are an exceedingly simple fellow, Bill; still there will come a day, my _dear_ Bill--there will come----"
"Do you grumble, you vagrant? Another word, and I double the terms."
"Mum, William--mum; _tace_ is Latin for a candle."
"Seven years more of grace, and the same measure of the needful that I got before. Ay or no?"
"Of grace, Bill! Ay! ay! ay! There's the cash. I accept the terms. Oh blood! the rascal--of grace!! Bill!"
"Well, now drop the hammer, and vanish," says Billy; "but what would you think to take this sledge, while you stay, and give me a----eh! why in such a hurry?" he added, seeing that Satan withdrew in double-quick time.
"Hollo! Nicholas!" he shouted, "come back; you forgot something!" and when the old gentleman looked behind him, Billy shook the hammer at him, on which he vanished altogether.
Billy now got into his old courses; and what shows the kind of people the world is made of, he also took up with his old company. When they saw that he had the money once more, and was sowing it about him in all directions, they immediately began to find excuses for his former extravagance.
"Say what you will," said one, "Bill Dawson's a spirited fellow, and bleeds like a prince."