Dumps looked more serious than ever; but the greater his gravity, the
more the people smiled, and one young lady actually laughed in his face
as she said aloud, "Oh, that mock heroic tragedy look is _so_ like
him!"
Sighmon sighed for the seclusion of number three, Burying Ground
Buildings, Paddington Road.
One morning his landlady announced, with broader grin than usual, that a
gentleman desired to speak with him; he grumbled, but submitted, and the
gentleman was announced.
"My name, sir, is Opie," said the stranger; "I am quite delighted to see
you here. You intend gratifying the good people of Tewksbury of course?"
"Gratifying! what _can_ you mean?"
"If your name is announced, there'll not be a box to be had."
"I always look after my own boxes, I can tell you," replied Dumps.
"By all means, you _will_ come out here of course?"
"Come out? to be sure, I sha'n't stay within doors always."
"What do you mean to come out in?"
"Why, what I've got on will do very well."
"Oh, that's so like you," said Opie, shaking his sides with laughter,
"you really _are_ inimitable!--What character do you select here?"
"Character!" said Dumps, "the stranger."
"The Stranger! _you?_"
"Yes, _I.
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