et in her own chair wiv a 'igh
hup bact, and she shall set in her own chair wiv...." Here came a pause,
due to inanition of distinctive features. Dolly's style was disfigured
by vain repetitions, beyond a doubt.

"When old Mrs. Spicture comes back"--thus Dave, accepting the offered
formula, somewhat in the spirit of the true ballad writer--"she's
a-going to set in her own chair with cushions, just _here_!" He sat down
with violence on a spot immediately below the proposed centre of gravity
of the chair. "And then oy shall bring her her tea."

"No, you _s'arn't_! Mrs. Spicture shall set in her chair wiv scushions,
and me and dolly shall tite her her tea."

Dave sat on the floor fixing two intelligent blue eyes on dolly junior's
unintelligent violet ones, and holding his toes. "Dorly carn't!" said he
contemptuously. "Her legs gives. Besides, she's no inside, only brand."
This was a new dolly, who had replaced Struvvel Peter, who perished in
the accident. His legs had been wooden, and swung several ways. This
one's calves were wax, and one had come off, like a shoe. But the legs
only bent one way.

Dolly the mother did not reply to Dave's insinuations against his niece,
preferring the refrain of her thesis:--"When Mrs. Spicture comes back
and sets in her chair wiv scushions and an Aunt-Emma-Care-Saw, Mrs. Burr
she'll paw out the tea with only one lump of shoogy, and me and dolly
shall cally it acrost wivout a jop spilt, and me and dolly shall stand
it down on the little mognytoyble, and Mrs. Spicture she'll set in her
chair wiv scushions, and dolly hand her up the stoast."

"Let me kitch her at it!" said Dave, with offensive male assumption. "Oy
shall see to Mrs. Spicture's toast, and see she gets it hot. And Mrs.
Burr she'll give leave to butter it, and say how much, and the soyde
edge trimmed round toydy with a knoyf." All these details, safely based
on items of past experience, were practically historical.

Dolly always accepted Dave's masculine airisomeness with meek
equanimity, but invariably took no notice of it. This is nearly common
form in well-organized households. She went on to refer to other
gratifying revivals that would come about on Mrs. Picture's return. The
sofy should be stood back against the wall, for dolly to be put to sleep
on. And Queen Victoria she should go up on one nail, and Prince Halbert
on the other. These were beautiful coloured prints, smiling fixedly
across a full complement of stars