"And them that don't find, loses," said I. "No, I don't wish to play." "Why not, my lord?" "Why, in the first place, I have no money." "Oh, you have no money! That, of course, alters the case. If you have no money, you can't play. Well, I suppose I must be seeing after my customers," said he, glancing over the plain. "Good day," said I. "Good day," said the man slowly, but without moving, and as if in reflection. After a moment or two, looking at me inquiringly, he added, "Out of employ?" "Yes," said I, "out of employ." The man measured me with his eye as I lay on the ground. At length he said, "May I speak a word or two to you, my lord?" "As many as you please," said I. "Then just come a little out of hearing, a little farther on the grass, if you please, my lord." "Why do you call me my lord?" said I, as I arose and followed him. "We of the thimble always calls our customers lords," said the man. "But I won't call you such a foolish name any more. Come along." The man walked along the plain till he came to the side of a dry pit, when, looking round to see that no one was nigh, he laid his table on the grass, and, sitting down with his legs over the side of the pit, he motioned me to do the same. "So you are in want of employ?" said he, after I had sat down beside him. "Yes," said I, "I am very much in want of employ." "I think I can find you some." "What kind?" said I. "Why," said the man, "I think you would do to be my bonnet." "Bonnet," said I; "what is that?" "Don't you know? However, no wonder, as you had never heard of the thimble-and-pea game; but I will tell you. We of the game are very much exposed. Folks, when they have lost their money, as those who play with us mostly do, sometimes uses rough language, calls us cheats, and sometimes knocks our hats over our eyes; and what's more, with a kick under our table, causes the top deals to fly off. This is the third table I have used this day, the other two being broken by uncivil customers. So we of the game generally like to have gentlemen go about with us to take our part, and encourage us, though pretending to know nothing about us. For example, when the customer says, 'I'm cheated,' the bonnet must say, 'No, you a'n't; it is all right.' Or when my hat is knocked over my eyes, the bonnet must square, and say, 'I never saw the man before in all my life, but I won't see him ill-used.' And when they kicks at the table, the bonnet must say, 'I won't see the table ill-used, such a nice table, too; besides, I want to play myself.' And then I would say to the bonnet, 'Thank you, my lord, them that finds, wins.' And then the bonnet plays, and I lets the bonnet win." "In a word," said I, "the bonnet means the man who covers you, even as the real bonnet covers the head." "Just so," said the man; "I see you are awake, and would soon make a first-rate bonnet." "What would the wages be?" I demanded.