oom into a tap-room with their nasty smoke. I won't have it,
I tell you--I won't have it."

"But, Martha, dear, you are so rash; come to bed now, and sleep on it
all."

"Not till every light is out in this house will I stir. Sitting
smoking, and diceing, and gambling there at this time of night."

"Were they, my dear?" said the butler, mildly.

"Yes, with gold by their sides, playing for sovereigns; and that
black-looking captain had actually got a five-pound note on the table.
We shall all come to ruin."

"Yes, that we shall, if you forget your place," said the butler,
pitifully, as he gave his pillow a punch.

"Forget my place, indeed!" retorted his wife; "have I been plotting and
planning all these years for nothing? Have I brought matters to this
pitch to be treated in this way, to be turned upon by an ungrateful boy,
with his rough, sea-going ways? This isn't the quarter-deck of a ship--
do you hear what I say?--this isn't the quarter-deck of a ship."

"No, my dear, of course it isn't," said the butler, mildly--"it's our
bedroom," he added to himself.

"But I'll bring him to himself in the morning, see if I don't," she
said, folding her arms, and speaking fiercely. "I'll soon let him know
who I am--an overbearing, obstinate, mad--are you asleep, Lloyd?"

"No, my dear, I'm listening."

"Now, look here; I have my plans about Polly."

"Yes, dear."

"And, mind this, if that fellow Humphrey attempts to approach her
again--"

"Poor Humphrey!" sighed the butler.

"Ah!" exclaimed his wife, "what was I about to marry such a milksop?
Did you know that he was making up to her?"

"I thought he cared for the girl, my dear."

"You fool! you idiot, Lloyd! and not to tell me. Have you no brains at
all?"

"I'm afraid not much, my dear," said the butler, pitifully: "what little
I had has been pretty well muddled with trouble, and upset, and dread,
and one thing and another."

"Lloyd!" exclaimed the housekeeper, "if ever I hear you speak again like
that--"

She did not finish her sentence, but her eyes flashed as she looked full
in his, holding the candle over him the while.

"Now, look here," she said, more temperately. "I shall have a talk with
my gentleman in the morning."

"What, poor Humphrey?"

"Poor Humphrey, no. But mind this--he's not to come near Polly."

"But you don't think--"

"Never mind what I think, you mind what I say, and leave me to bring
things round. If she don't know wha