marbles afterwards at school? The wicked, naughty boys beat the poor
child; but Adolphus has his consolation! Is Master Edward well, ma'am,
and Master Robert, and Master Frederick, and dear little funny Master
William?

MRS. B.--Thank you, Mrs. Prior; you have a good heart, indeed!

MRS. P.--Ah, what blessings those dears are to you! I wish your dearest
little GRANDSON---

MRS. B.--The little naughty wretch! Do you know, Mrs. Prior, my
grandson, George Milliken, spilt the ink over my dear husband's bands,
which he keeps in his great dictionary; and fought with my child,
Frederick, who is three years older than George--actually beat his own
uncle!

MRS. P.--Gracious mercy! Master Frederick was not hurt, I hope?

MRS. B.--No; he cried a great deal; and then Robert came up, and that
graceless little George took a stick; and then my husband came out, and
do you know George Milliken actually kicked Mr. Bonnington on his shins,
and butted him like a little naughty ram?

MRS. P.--Mercy! mercy! what a little rebel! He is spoiled, dear madam,
and you know by WHOM.

MRS. B.--By his grandmamma Kicklebury. I know it. I want my son to whip
that child, but he refuses. He will come to no good; that child.

MRS. P.--Ah, madam, don't say so! Let us hope for the best. Master
George's high temper will subside when certain persons who pet him are
gone away.

MRS. B.--Gone away! they never will go away! No, mark my words, Mrs.
Prior, that woman will never go away. She has made the house her own:
she commands everything and everybody in it. She has driven me--me--Mr.
Milliken's own mother--almost out of it. She has so annoyed my dear
husband, that Mr. Bonnington will scarcely come here. Is she not always
sneering at private tutors, because Mr. Bonnington was my son's private
tutor, and greatly valued by the late Mr. Milliken? Is she not making
constant allusions to old women marrying young men, because Mr.
Bonnington happens to be younger than me? I have no words to express my
indignation respecting Lady Kicklebury. She never pays any one, and
runs up debts in the whole town. Her man Bulkeley's conduct in the
neighborhood is quite--quite--

MRS. P.--Gracious goodness, ma'am, you don't say so! And then what an
appetite the gormandizing monster has! Mary tells me that what he eats
in the servants' hall is something perfectly frightful.

MRS. B.--Everybody feeds on my poor son! You are looking at my cap, Mrs.
Prior? [During this t