"You're a ve--ry clever fellow, Gammon!" exclaimed Mr. Quirk, presently, with a sort of sigh, and after, as it were, holding his breath for some time. Gammon made no reply. His face was slightly pale, and wore an anxious expression. "It will do _now_," continued Mr. Quirk, rubbing his hands, and with a gleeful expression of countenance. "That remains to be seen," replied Gammon, in a low tone. "Eh? What? Does anything occur--eh? By Jove, no screw loose, I hope?" "No--but we're in _very deep water_ now, Mr. Quirk"---- "Well--devil only cares, so long as _you_ keep a sharp look-out, Gammon. I'll trust the helm to you! I'll pit you against Old Nick any day, friend Gammon!" As Gammon did not seem in a talkative mood, Quirk shortly afterwards left him. Now, though Mr. Tag-rag is no favorite of mine, I begin to feel a good deal of anxiety on his behalf. I wish he had not been in so vast a "hurry," in a matter which required such grave deliberation, as "signing, sealing, and delivering." When a man is called on to go through so serious a ceremony, it would be well if he could be apprised of the significance of the formula--_"I deliver this as my act and deed."_ Thus hath expressed himself upon this point, a great authority in the law, old Master Plowden. 'T is a passage somewhat quaint in form, but not the less forcible and important in substance:-- "Words are oft _spoken_ unadvisedly, and pass from men lightly and inconsiderately; but, where the agreement is by _deed_, there is more time for deliberation; for when a man passes a thing by deed, first, there is the determination of the mind to do it, and upon that he causes it to be _written_, which is one part of deliberation; and, afterwards, he _puts his seal to it_, which is another part of deliberation; and, lastly, he _delivers the writing as his deed_, which is the consummation of his resolution. So that there is great deliberation used in the making of deeds, for which reason they are received as a _lien_, final to the party, and are adjudged to bind the party, without examining upon what cause or consideration they were made."[24] Possibly some one now reading these pages hath had most dismal experience in the matter above mentioned; and I hope that such dismal experience, a due reflection will avert from many a reader. As for Tag-rag, it may turn out that our fears for him are groundless: nevertheless _one hates to see men do important things in a hurry_:--and, as we shall lose sight of Mr. Tag-rag for some time, there can be no harm in wishing him well out of what he has just done. "If it were _done_ when 't is done, then 't were well It were done _quickly_"-- and not otherwise.