a'am; I don't know that I shall want you, but to-morrow
morning, if you have time, from other and more important business, call
in, bring your children with you; good morning, ma'am--Banquo!"

"Yis, sah; I'se heah."

"Show the lady out--good morning, ma'am, good morning."

"I like that woman's looks," said old Job, continuing his walk; "she's
plain and tidy; she's industrious, I'll warrant; if she only hadn't that
raft of _incumbrances_; what do these people have incumbrances for,
anyway?--"

"Lady at the doo-ah, sah," said Banquo.

"Show her in. Good morning, ma'am; Banquo, a seat for the lady; yes,
ma'am, I did; I want a housekeeper. I advertised for one. How many
servants do I keep? Well, ma'am, I keep as many as I want. Have
visitors? Of course I have. What and where are _my rooms_? Why, madam, I
own the house, every brick and lath in it. I go to bed, and get up, and
go round; come in and out, when I feel like it. What church do I worship
in? I've assisted in _building_ a number, own a half of one, and a third
of several; but, ma'am, between you and I--I don't want to be rude to a
lady, ma'am, but I _do_ think, this examination ain't to my liking--you
don't think the place would suit you, eh? Well, I think _your ladyship_
wouldn't suit _me_, ma'am, so I'll bid your ladyship good morning," said
old Job, bowing very obsequiously to the stiff-starched and acrimonious
dame, who, returning the old gentleman's _bow_ with the same "high
pressure" order, seized her skirts in one hand, and agitating her fan
with the other, she stepped out, or _finikined_ along to the hall door,
and as Banquo flew around, and put on the _extras_ to let her ladyship
out, she gave the darkey a pat on the head with her fan, and looking
crab-apples at the poor negro, she rushed down the steps and
disappeared.

"Tank you, ma'am; come again, eb you please--of'n!" said the pouting
negro.

"Yes, sah; here's nudder lady, sah," says Banquo, ushering in a rather
ruddy, jolly-looking and perfectly-at-home daughter of the "gim o' the
sae." The old gentleman eyed her liberal proportions; consulting his
snuff-box, he answered "yes" to the woman's inquiry, if _he_ was the
gintleman wanting the housekeeper.

"Did you read my advertisement, ma'am?"

"Me rade it? Not I, faix. Mr. Mullony, our landlord, was saying till
us--"

"Are you married, too?"

"Married _two_? Do I look like a woman as would marry two? No, _sur_;
I'm a dacent woman, sur; my