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Mr. Cruncher did not assist at the closing sports, but had

remained behind in the churchyard, to confer and condole with the

undertakers. The place had a soothing influence on him. He

procured a pipe from a neighbouring public-house, and smoked it,

looking in at the railings and maturely considering the spot.

"Jerry," said Mr. Cruncher, apostrophising himself in his usual

way, "you see that there Cly that day, and you see with your own

eyes that he was a young 'un and a straight made 'un."

Having smoked his pipe out, and ruminated a little longer, he

turned himself about, that he might appear, before the hour of

closing, on his station at Tellson's. Whether his meditations on

mortality had touched his liver, or whether his general health

had been previously at all amiss, or whether he desired to show a

little attention to an eminent man, is not so much to the

purpose, as that he made a short call upon his medical adviser--a

distinguished surgeon--on his way back.