hall I show you the way?"

"Lord, no, 'oman! I ain't a baby! But I reckon you may toss me in a
nightgown and nightcap before you go to bed yourself, for, you know, I
come here right from the church, and, of course, didn't fetch any 'long o'
me."

"I think you will find all those conveniences laid out on your bed," said
Mrs. Force.

"All right! Good-night, ole 'oman!" And she kissed Mrs. Force, to that
lady's dismay. "I'm sorry I had to make such a fuss in the church to-day,
but I couldn't help it, and it is all for the best. Good-night, ole man!
Lord, why, I feel just as if I had knowed you all the days of my life, and
you was my own kinfolks! So here goes!" And she stood on tiptoes and
pulled down Mr. Force's black-whiskered face and kissed him.

And he bore the punishment with much more fortitude than his wife had
done.

Then the frank, rude, handsome creature, in whom there was no wickedness
at all, took up her wax taper again, laughed, nodded and went out.

"Well, for a woman who has been robbed of her fortune and forsaken by her
husband, she takes life quite cheerfully," said Elfrida Force, with a
touch of sarcasm in her manner.

"It is her healthy constitution and happy, animal spirits that enables her
to do so," said Abel Force, apologetically.

"She is very ill bred!" said Elfrida.

"That is her misfortune, not her fault, poor thing! But enough of her. How
is our darling this evening?"

"Fast asleep, with a regular, normal pulse and respiration. To-morrow she
will be quite restored, I think."

"Heaven grant it!" fervently exclaimed Abel Force.

Then he touched the timbre that was to summon Jake, to close up fenders
and put out lights.

And then the husband and wife went upstairs together.

When they reached the landing, they were startled by a loud rapping on the
inside of Mrs. Anglesea's door.

"She wants something that has been forgotten, I suppose. Go on, Abel, and
I will stop and see what she requires," said Elfrida Force.

And the gentleman passed on to his apartments, while the lady paused at
their visitor's door.

"Say! Hi! Ole 'oman! You! I want you!" cried the guest, from within, as
the lady approached.

"Well, what is it?" inquired Elfrida Force.

"Is your ole man outside?"

"No; he has gone to his room."

"Then it's all right, and I can come out," replied the woman, opening the
door and standing there in her ascension robes, while she held up, at
arm's length, one of Elfrid