They next fell to quibbles and conundrums. The question being proposed, who had the greatest number of followers--the _Quarter Days_ said, there could be no question as to that; for they had all the creditors in the world dogging their heels. But _April Fool_ gave it in favour of the _Forty Days before Easter_; because the debtors in all cases outnumbered the creditors, and they kept _lent_ all the year. All this while, _Valentine's Day_ kept courting pretty _May_, who sate next him, slipping amorous _billets-doux_ under the table, till the _Dog Days_ (who are naturally of a warm constitution) began to be jealous, and to bark and rage exceedingly. _April Fool_, who likes a bit of sport above measure, and had some pretensions to the lady besides, as being but a cousin once removed,--clapped and halloo'd them on; and as fast as their indignation cooled, those mad wags, the _Ember Days_, were at it with their bellows, to blow it into a flame; and all was in a ferment: till old Madam _Septuagesima_ (who boasts herself the _Mother of the Days_) wisely diverted the conversation with a tedious tale of the lovers which she could reckon when she was young; and of one Master _Rogation Day_ in particular, who was for ever putting the _question_ to her; but she kept him at a distance, as the chronicle would tell--by which I apprehend she meant the Almanack. Then she rambled on to the _Days that were gone_, the _good old Days_, and so to the _Days before the Flood_--which plainly showed her old head to be little better than crazed and doited. Day being ended, the _Days_ called for their cloaks and great coats, and took their leaves. _Lord Mayor's Day_ went off in a Mist, as usual; _Shortest Day_ in a deep black Fog, that wrapt the little gentleman all round like a hedge-hog. Two _Vigils_--so watchmen are called in heaven--saw _Christmas Day_ safe home--they had been used to the business before. Another _Vigil_--a stout, sturdy patrole, called the _Eve of St. Christopher_--seeing _Ash Wednesday_ in a condition little better than he should be--e'en whipt him over his shoulders, pick-a-back fashion, and _Old Mortification_ went floating home, singing-- On the bat's back do I fly, and a number of old snatches besides, between drunk and sober, but very few Aves or Penitentiaries (you may believe me) were among them. _Longest Day_ set off westward in beautiful crimson and gold--the rest, some in one fashion, some in another; but _Valentine_ and pretty _May_ took their departure together in one of the prettiest silvery twilights a Lover's Day could wish to set in. [Footnote 1: The late King.] THE WEDDING