as there?" demanded Sikes, pushing the ale towards his new friend.
"If you're going directly, I can," replied the man, looking out of the pot. "Are you going to Halliford?"
"Going on to Shepperton," replied Sikes.
"I'm your man as far as I go," replied the other. "Is all paid, Becky?"
"Yes, the other gentleman's paid," replied the girl.
"I say!" said the man with tipsy gravity, "that won't do, you know."
"Why not?" rejoined Sikes. "You're a-going to accommodate us, and wot's to prevent my standing treat for a pint or so, in return?"
The stranger reflected upon this argument with a very profound face, and, having done so, seized Sikes by the hand and declared he was a real good fellow. To which Mr. Sikes replied he was joking;—as, if he had been sober, there would have been strong reason to suppose he was.
