ur street, don't know that I lost money
by that man, and by his guzzlings and his muzzlings'--Mrs MacStinger
used the last word for the joint sake of alliteration and aggravation,
rather than for the expression of any idea--'and when they cried out one
and all, shame upon him for putting upon an industrious woman, up early
and late for the good of her young family, and keeping her poor place so
clean that a individual might have ate his dinner, yes, and his tea too,
if he was so disposed, off any one of the floors or stairs, in spite
of all his guzzlings and his muzzlings, such was the care and pains
bestowed upon him!'

Mrs MacStinger stopped to fetch her breath; and her face flushed with
triumph in this second happy introduction of Captain Cuttle's muzzlings.

'And he runs awa-a-a-y!'cried Mrs MacStinger, with a lengthening out of
the last syllable that made the unfortunate Captain regard himself as
the meanest of men; 'and keeps away a twelve-month! From a woman! Such
is his conscience! He hasn't the courage to meet her hi-i-igh;' long
syllable again; 'but steals away, like a fellon. Why, if that baby of
mine,' said Mrs MacStinger, with sudden rapidity, 'was to offer to go
and steal away, I'd do my duty as a mother by him, till he was covered
with wales!'

The young Alexander, interpreting this into a positive promise, to be
shortly redeemed, tumbled over with fear and grief, and lay upon the
floor, exhibiting the soles of his shoes and making such a deafening
outcry, that Mrs MacStinger found it necessary to take him up in her
arms, where she quieted him, ever and anon, as he broke out again, by a
shake that seemed enough to loosen his teeth.

'A pretty sort of a man is Cap'en Cuttle,' said Mrs MacStinger, with a
sharp stress on the first syllable of the Captain's name, 'to take on
for--and to lose sleep for--and to faint along of--and to think dead
forsooth--and to go up and down the blessed town like a madwoman, asking
questions after! Oh, a pretty sort of a man! Ha ha ha ha! He's worth all
that trouble and distress of mind, and much more. That's nothing, bless
you! Ha ha ha ha! Cap'en Cuttle,' said Mrs MacStinger, with severe
reaction in her voice and manner, 'I wish to know if you're a-coming
home.

The frightened Captain looked into his hat, as if he saw nothing for it
but to put it on, and give himself up.

'Cap'en Cuttle,' repeated Mrs MacStinger, in the same determined manner,
'I wish to know if you'r