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With his straw in his mouth, Mr. Cruncher sat watching the two

streams, like the heathen rustic who has for several centuries

been on duty watching one stream--saving that Jerry had no

expectation of their ever running dry. Nor would it have been an

expectation of a hopeful kind, since a small part of his income

was derived from the pilotage of timid women (mostly of a full

habit and past the middle term of life) from Tellson's side of

the tides to the opposite shore. Brief as such companionship was

in every separate instance, Mr. Cruncher never failed to become

so interested in the lady as to express a strong desire to have

the honour of drinking her very good health. And it was from the

gifts bestowed upon him towards the execution of this benevolent

purpose, that he recruited his finances, as just now observed.