"
was rote. The younger girls, too, were always bouncing and thumping
about the house, with torn pinnyfores, and dogs-eard grammars, and large
pieces of bread and treacle. I never see such a house.

As for Mrs. Shum, she was such a fine lady, that she did nothink but
lay on the drawing-room sophy, read novels, drink, scold, scream, and go
into hystarrix. Little Shum kep reading an old newspaper from weeks' end
to weeks' end, when he was not engaged in teaching the children, or goin
for the beer, or cleanin the shoes: for they kep no servant. This house
in John Street was in short a regular Pandymony.

What could have brought Mr. Frederic Altamont to dwell in such a place?
The reason is hobvius: he adoared the fust Miss Shum.

And suttnly he did not show a bad taste; for though the other daughters
were as ugly as their hideous ma, Mary Shum was a pretty little pink,
modest creatur, with glossy black hair and tender blue eyes, and a neck
as white as plaster of Parish. She wore a dismal old black gownd, which
had grown too short for her, and too tight; but it only served to show
her pretty angles and feet, and bewchus figger. Master, though he had
looked rather low for the gal of his art, had certainly looked in the
right place. Never was one more pretty or more hamiable. I gav her
always the buttered toast left from our brexfust, and a cup of tea or
chocklate, as Altamont might fancy: and the poor thing was glad enough
of it, I can vouch; for they had precious short commons up stairs, and
she the least of all.

For it seemed as if which of the Shum famly should try to snub the poor
thing most. There was the four Buckmaster girls always at her. It was,
Mary, git the coal-skittle; Mary, run down to the public-house for the
beer; Mary, I intend to wear your clean stockens out walking, or your
new bonnet to church. Only her poor father was kind to her; and he, poor
old muff! his kindness was of no use. Mary bore all the scolding like
a hangel, as she was: no, not if she had a pair of wings and a goold
trumpet, could she have been a greater hangel.

I never shall forgit one seen that took place. It was when Master was
in the city; and so, having nothink earthly to do, I happened to be
listening on the stairs. The old scolding was a-going on, and the old
tune of that hojus "Battle of Prag." Old Shum made some remark; and Miss
Buckmaster cried out, "Law, pa! what a fool you are!" All the gals began
laffin, and so did Mrs. S