ulty
that was to be encountered; but before she was in a condition to be seen,
she heard a man's voice on the stairs saying--

"Walk up, my dear. The rooms on the second floor are ours."

Then came the noise of many feet in the passage, and the din of children's
voices. Mr. Scragg and his family had arrived.

Mrs. Ring was sitting with the morning paper in her hand, when her door was
flung widely open, and a strange man stepped boldly in, saying, as he did
so, to the lady who followed him--

"This is one of the chambers."

Mrs. Ring arose, bowed, and looked at the intruders with surprise and
embarrassment. Just then, four rude children bounded into the room,
spreading themselves around it, and making themselves perfectly at home.

"There is some mistake, I presume," said Mrs. Scragg, on perceiving a lady
in the room, whose manner said plainly enough that they were out of their
place.

"Oh no! no mistake at all," replied Scragg. "These are the two rooms I
engaged."

Just then Mrs. Darlington entered, in manifest excitement.

"Walk down into the parlor, if you please," said she.

"These are our rooms," said Scragg, showing no inclination to vacate the
premises.

"Be kind enough to walk down into the parlor," repeated Mrs. Darlington,
whose sense of propriety was outraged by the man's conduct, and who felt a
corresponding degree of indignation.

With some show of reluctance, this invitation was acceded to, and Mr.
Scragg went muttering down stairs, followed by his brood. The moment he
left the chamber, the door was shut and locked by Mrs. Ring, who was a good
deal frightened by so unexpected an intrusion.

"What am I to understand by this, madam?" said Mr. Scragg, fiercely, as
soon as they had all reached the parlor, planting his hands upon his hips
as he spoke, drawing himself up, and looking at Mrs. Darlington with a
lowering countenance.

"Take a seat, madam," said Mrs. Darlington, addressing the man's wife in a
tone of forced composure. She was struggling for self-possession.

The lady sat down.

"Will you be good enough to explain the meaning of all this, madam?"
repeated Mr. Scragg.

"The meaning is simply," replied Mrs. Darlington, "that I have let the
front room in the second story to a gentleman and his wife for twelve
dollars a-week."

"The deuce you have!" said Mr. Scragg, with a particular exhibition of
gentlemanly indignation. "And pray, madam, didn't you let both the rooms in
the secon