hear me thunder like Demosthenes--but here comes the
tray."

The butler, followed by Mesty, who attended him as if he was his
prisoner, now made his appearance with the tray--laid it down in a sulky
manner and retired. Jack desired Mesty to remain.

"Well, Mesty, how are they getting on in the servants' hall?"

"Regular mutiny, sar--ab swear dat dey no stand our nonsense, and dat we
both leave the house to-morrow."

"Do you hear, sir, your servants declare that I shall leave your house
to-morrow."

"You leave my house, Jack, after four years' absence!--no, no. I'll
reason with them--I'll make them a speech. You don't know how I can
speak, Jack."

"Look you, father, I cannot stand this; either give me a carte-blanche
to arrange this household as I please, or I shall quit it myself
to-morrow morning."

"Quit my house, Jack! no, no--shake hands and make friends with them; be
civil, and they will serve you--but you know upon the principles--"

"Principles of the devil!" cried Jack in a rage.

"Of the devil, Jack; dear me! I wish you had never gone to sea."

"In one word, sir, do you consent, or am I to leave the house?"

"Leave the house! Oh, no; not leave the house, Jack. I have no son but
you. Then do as you please--but you must not send away my murderer, for
I must have him cured, and shown as a proof of my wonderful invention."

"Mesty, get my pistols ready for to-morrow morning, and your own too--do
ye hear?"

"All ready, massa," replied Mesty; "I tink dat right."

"Right!--pistols, Jack! What do you mean?"

"It is possible, father, that you may not have yet quite cured your
murderer, and therefore it is as well to be prepared. I will now wish
you goodnight; but before I go, you will be pleased to summon one of the
servants that he may inform the others that the household is under my
control for the future."

The bell was again rung, and was this time answered with more
expedition. Jack told the servant, in the presence of his father, that,
with the consent of the latter, he should hereafter take the whole
control of the establishment, and that Mesty would be the major-domo
from whom they would receive their orders. The man stared, and cast an
appealing look to Mr Easy, who hesitated, and at last said:

"Yes, William; you'll apologise to all, and say that I have made the
arrangement."

"You apologise to none, sir," cried Jack; "but tell them that I will
arrange the whole business to-mo