,« muttered Gabriel, »that's out of the 'Prentice's Garland, or
the 'Prentice's Delight, or the 'Prentice's Warbler, or the 'Prentice's Guide to
the Gallows, or some such improving text-book. Now he's going to beautify
himself - here's a precious locksmith!«
    Quite unconscious that his master was looking on from the dark corner by the
parlour door, Sim threw off the paper cap, sprang from his seat, and in two
extraordinary steps, something between skating and minuet dancing, bounded to a
washing place at the other end of the shop, and there removed from his face and
hands all traces of his previous work - practising the same step all the time
with the utmost gravity. This done, he drew from some concealed place a little
scrap of looking-glass, and with its assistance arranged his hair, and
ascertained the exact state of a little carbuncle on his nose. Having now
completed his toilet, he placed the fragment of mirror on a low bench, and
looked over his shoulder at so much of his legs as could be reflected in that
small compass, with the greatest possible complacency and satisfaction.
    Sim, as he was called in the locksmith's family, or Mr, Simon Tappertit, as
he called himself, and required all men to style him out of doors, on holidays,
and Sundays out, - was an old-fashioned, thin-faced, sleek-haired, sharp-nosed,
small-eyed little fellow, very little more than five feet high, and thoroughly
convinced in his own mind that he was above the middle size; rather tall, in
fact, than otherwise. Of his figure, which was well enough formed, though
somewhat of the leanest, he entertained the highest admiration; and with his
legs, which, in knee-breeches, were perfect curiosities of littleness, he was
enraptured to a degree amounting to enthusiasm. He also had some majestic,
shadowy ideas, which had never been quite fathomed by his intimate friends,
concerning the power of his eye. Indeed he had been known to go so far as to
boast that he could utterly quell and subdue the haughtiest beauty by a simple
process, which he termed eyeing her over; but it must be added, that neither of
this faculty, nor of the power he claimed to have, through the same gift, of
vanquishing and heaving down dumb animals, even in a rabid state, had he ever
furnished evidence which could be deemed quite satisfactory and conclusive.
    It
