Hodson replied that he knew his friend Shuffle had always been reckoned a bit of a "genus," and, for his part, he always knode a "genus" half a mile off, by his thread-bare coat, and his shoes worn down at the heels. "Aprepo!" said Mrs. Hodson, "by-the-by, Mr. Shuffle, you forgot to settle for that there pair of boots before you left Cheltenham six months ago." "Very true, my dear lady," answered Shuffle, "all very true: everything shall be settled. I have two irons in the fire at this time, and very great prospects, I assure you, only do pray cut the shop just now and indulge me with a little genteel conversation." "A genteel way of doing a man out of a pair of boots," muttered Hodson, "but I'll tell you what, Mr. Shuffle, you must show me a more lasting trade, of one with more sole in it, before you succeed in making me ashamed of being a shoemaker." "And pray," continued Hodson, "where's the perpetual motion you were wriggling after so long? and then your rage for the stage, what's become of that? Have you made any money by it?" "How is it possible," answered Shuffle, "for a man to make money by talents he is not permitted to exert! "'Sir,' said I, to the manager of the Liverpool theatre, 'I have cut my trade of wig-making dead, and beg to propose myself to you as a first-rate performer.' 'Have you any recommendations?' inquired the manager, eyeing me from head to foot. 'Yes sir,' I replied, 'plenty of recommendations. In the first place, I have an excellent head.'" "For a wig! a good block, I reckon," interrupted Hodson. "'In the second place,' Shuffle continued, "'I have the strongest lungs of any man in England.'" "That is unfortunately the case of my good woman here," again interrupted Hodson. "'And, as for dyeing, sir,'" still continued Shuffle, "'I have been practising it for these two years.'" "Upon red and grey hair, I presume?" said the incorrigible Hodson. "'Sir,' said the Liverpool prig," so Shuffle went on, "'Sir, our company happens to be at this moment complete.' Fifty managers served me the same. At last however I got a hearing, and, as I suspected would be the case, was immediately engaged. The play-bills mentioned the part of Romeo by a gentleman, his first appearance on the stage; but it was a low company and beggarly audience, which accounts for my having been pelted with oranges and hissed off the stage!" Hodson here burst into a very loud fit of laughter, declaring this was the best joke he ever heard in his life. Shuffle, without at all joining in his friend's mirth, declared that he had now resigned all thoughts of a profession, the success of which must often depend on a set of ignorant blockheads, and turned his thoughts to love and experimental philosophy. "I say?" was Hodson's wise remark, looking very significantly at his friend. "Well sir; what have you to say?" Shuffle inquired. "Blow me, Shuffle, if you ar'n't a little--" Hodson paused and touched his forehead.