"Do you know why?" replied my father.

Ben shook his head.

"Then I'll tell you: because she was once a lady's ladies' maid."

"Well," replied Ben, "I don't understand much about titles and nobility,
and those sort of things; but I'm sorry she's gone down in the world,
for though a little particular about gentility, she's a good sort of
woman in her way, and keeps up her character, and earns an honest
livelihood."

"So much the better for her," replied my father, who refilled his pipe
and continued to smoke in silence.

My mother had gone into the back kitchen to wash, which was the cause
(not having been summoned) of her being so long absent.

Virginia, who had become quite sociable, was passing her little fingers
through my father's large whiskers, while he every now and then put his
pipe out of his mouth to kiss her. I had the porter-pot on my knees, my
father having told me to take a swig, when my mother entered the room.

"Well, Mr. Benjamin, I shouldn't wonder--but--Oh! mercy, it's he!" cried
my mother. "Oh! be quick--sal-wolatily!"

"Sail who? What the devil does she mean?" said my father, rising up and
putting my sister off his knee.