izing everything; and my humble opinion is that you have
got the fear fever in your heads.' The old gentleman took it all in
good part; in fact (the truth must be told at times) they seemed
rather to fear and like the man of the _Times_, who seldom failed in
getting by some mysterious process the secrets of Downing street.
However, as disturbances seldom come separate, no sooner had the man
of the _Times_ been smoothed nicely down with Downing street
soft-soap, of which a never-failing supply was always at hand, than a
most furious hue and cry again echoed through the old walls from
another part of the house. Alarm and anxiety darted into the face of
everyone present; all eyes stared in death-like gaze in the direction
from whence it came. Smooth being in for a share of the alarm as well
as the fun, looked along with the rest, when, lo! high on a seat in
the corner, sat _Mr. Punch_, his comical face glowing through a sort
of knot-hole and Toby perched on his right shoulder, growling and
looking as if he wanted to bite every old fudge in the conclave.
_Punch_, to outsecret the players, was, in a very clever sort of way,
taking private notes, the subject matter of which he intended giving
to his readers in a very condensed and elegant volume. This started
the players to their feet, when each seized a book, and, letting fly
at _Punch's_ head, drove him scampering out of Downing street.

"Having got rid of _Mr. Punch_, and bowed the man of the _Times_
politely out, Grandmama Fudge, in a strong Scotch brogue, said, 'Nu,
luds, let us gang awa to the crumpets--bring 'um hither, mya bullies!'
He drew a sort of simple contortion over his broad, hard face, and
mouthed his lips, as if he would the amplest dough-nut be put on his
plate. Palm, just as they were resuming their seats, insinuated that
as the venerable old man was well gone in his dotage, he had better
measure his diet somewhat after the judicious character of his
diplomacy, which was celebrated for its small doses crookedly doled
out. The dish was again removed, mouths began to water, eager eyes
glanced upon the steaming viands, giving out their strong glows and
unsavory smells. This incited dither strong, on calling the two cooks
its, after many and tedious interrogatories, confessed, in fear and
trembling, that Grandmama Fudge had strictly ordered them fried in
grease of the Russian Bear, an animal for which he entertained a
curious sympathy. And here it was observed