“Some on ’em are not bad――so I’ve been told. My poor father took great delight in picking up pictures and such like at sales. He was a better judge nor what I am.” “Some of them are very good indeed, and some of them, of course, but indifferent. This one must always expect in a miscellaneous collection, but the frames are little the worse for wear.” “I’ve bin goin’ to have ’em done up ever so many times, but, lord, it ed run into money, I fancy.” “Not much,” returned his visitor, musingly; “not a great deal, I fancy. If I stop here for a while I’d give you an estimate.” “And don’t you think of stopping?” enquired the landlord, who was much taken with our hero. “Well, that depends upon what business I am likely to do in the neighbourhood. I shall be able to tell you more about it to-morrow or next day.” “Good, I hope un ’ill be successful; we’ve got a goodish many well-to-do folks about here.” A thin, short man, in a rusty suit of black, with dark rimmed spectacles, now ascended the stairs and entered the “club-room,” as it was termed. This personage was the parish clerk. “Your servant, sir,” said the landlord to the new comer. “We shall want the room on Monday next, Brickett,” said the clerk. “It is at your disposal, Mr. Overton.” Brickett now introduced Peace to the gentleman in rusty black, and made him acquainted with his occupation. “From London, sir, I presume?” “Yes, from London,” answered the print-seller. In expeditions of this sort he invariably gave people the idea that he had come direct from the metropolis. As a rule country folk paid greater attention to one hailing from the great city. “Show Mr. Overton some of your goods. He be a judge of such like commodities,” said the landlord, who at all times displayed a willingness to further the interests of his customers. Peace’s stock, or rather a considerable portion of it, was at once brought forth. The parish clerk’s attention was directed more especially to the sacred subjects. He inquired the price of the large photo of the “Light of the World.” It was Peace’s practice to lay it on a bit, as he termed it, when he found the fish bite; and he did not neglect to do so on this occasion. Mr. Overton had made up his mind to have the photo, but he shrugged his shoulders, and said he was a poor man. “Well,” said our hero, “I want to do business. “Is there any other you would like?” After a deal of consultation the clerk chose another. “Well, I’ll let you have the two for eighteen shillings. That’s the lowest I can say for them,” cried Peace. “Then I’ll have them,” said Mr. Overton. “And would you like them framed?” “Oh, of course I must have frames for them.” “Of an ecclesiastical character?” “It would be all the better.” “I will do you the frames cheaper than anybody――that is, if I can get enough orders to make it worth my while to stop in the neighbourhood for a few days.”