CHAPTER XXVII.
That Life is a picture of strange things and ways, A grand exhibition, each hour displays; And for London there's no place can with it compare, 'Tis a jumble of every thing curious and rare.
Cheap-side Bustlers--Fleet Street Hustlers, Jockeys, Doctors--Agents, Proctors, Bow Street Slangups--Bond Street Bangups, Hide and Seekers--Opera Squeakers, Lawyers, Tailors--Bailiffs, Jailors, Shopmen, Butlers--Alderman Gutters, Patriot Talkers--Sunday Walkers, Dancers, Actors--Jews, Contractors, Placemen, Croakers--Boxers, Brokers, Swindlers, Coroners--Spies, and Foreigners, And all, all to keep up the bubble of strife, And prove ways and means--is the picture of Life.
THE bustle and merriment of the Masquerade were long remembered in the mind of Bob Tallyho, and furnished frequent conversations between him and his Cousin; and the laughable occurrences of the evening, in which they had been engaged, were re-enjoyed in recollection, notwithstanding the preparations they were making for an excursion of another kind in the country, which though not exactly to the taste of Dashall, was inflexibly persevered in by Tallyho.
Tom tried every effort in his power to prolong the appointed period of departure in A'ain.

The heart and mind of his Cousin appeared to be occupied with anticipated delights, which he described in the most glowing colours of imagination.

The healthful fields, the enlivening fox chase, and the sportive exercises of a country life, were detailed with ecstacy; and though last, not least, the additional zest for the more attractive scenes (in Tom's idea) that would present themselves for inspection upon a return to the Metropolis.

At length it was finally arranged that their country excursion should not exceed 418~~ one month in duration, and that they would leave London time enough to reach Belville Hall on or before the first day of September.
Dashall, after consenting to this arrangement, finding there was not much time to spare, was anxious to improve it in the pursuit of such lively and interesting amusements as chance and accident might throw in their way.

"Come," said he, a few mornings after the masquerade, "it must not be said that you have been so long in London without viewing as many of its important curiosities as the time would admit; though I am sure we shall not have an opportunity of glancing at all those I could point out, and I am pretty sure that persons from the country frequently see more in a few days residence in the Metropolis, than those who have inhabited it for their whole lives.