"Of course," murmured Pax, with a solemn look, "_tremendously_ stringent. For first offences of any kind--a sousin' with dirty water. For second offences--a woppin' and a fine. For third--dismissal, with ears and noses chopped off, or such other mutilation as a committee of the house may invent. But, Phil, who d'yee think would be suitable men to make members of?" "Well, let me see," said Phil, again laying down his tools, and looking at the floor with a thoughtful air, "there's Long Poker, he's a long-legged, good-hearted fellow--fond o' the newspapers." "Yes," put in Pax, "Poker'll do for one. He'd be a capital member. Long and thin as a literary c'racter ought to be, and pliable too. We could make a'most anything of him, except a fire-screen or a tablecloth. Then there's Big Jack--he's got strong sedate habits." "Too fond of punning," objected Phil. "A little punishment in the mutilation way would stop that," said Pax. "And there's Jim Brown," rejoined Phil. "He's a steady, enthusiastic fellow; and little Grigs, he's about as impudent as yourself, Pax. Strange, isn't it, that it's chiefly little fellows who are impudent?" "Wouldn't it be strange if it were otherwise?" retorted Pax, with an injured look. "As we can't knock people down with our fists, aren't we justified in knockin' 'em down with our tongues?" "Then," continued Phil, "there's George Granger and Macnab--" "Ah! ain't he the boy for argufyin' too?" interrupted Pax, "and he'll meet his match in Sandy Tod. And there's Tom Blunter--" "And Jim Scroggins--" "An' Limp Letherby--" "An' Fat Collins--" "An' Bobby Sprat. Oh!" exclaimed Pax, with a glowing countenance, "we've got lots o' first-rate men among the message-boys, though there _are_ some uncommon bad 'uns. But we'll have none except true-blues in _our_ literary association." The society thus planned was soon called into being, for Philip Maylands was one of those determined characters who carry their plans into execution with vigour and despatch. His first move was to seek counsel of Mr Sterling, a city missionary--the same who had directed George Aspel to the abode of Abel Bones on the night of that youth's visit to Archangel Court,--with whom he had become acquainted on one of his visits to Miss Lillycrop. That good lady was a staunch ally and able assistant of many city missionaries, and did much service in the way of bringing them into acquaintance with people who she thought might be helpful to them, or get help from them. A mutual liking had sprung up between Mr Antony Sterling and Phil on that occasion, which had ripened into friendship. "You'll help us at our first meeting, won't you?" asked Phil, after they had talked the matter over.