to get the job completed at once, I have called round to know if you
are disengaged."

"Of course you are, Dove," said his wife.

"Softly, my only love," replied her husband. "Sir, be pleased to take
a seat. I shall be glad to do my best for you, and any recommendation
from the young ladies you mention is most gratifying to me. Sweet
young ladies they was, and ever will be--and my wife and me, we
mourns unceasing for their departure."

"Speak for yourself, Dove," said the wife--"we are doing better with
our present attics than we ever did with our late attics. Sir, you'll
excuse me, but truthful I ever will be at all costs."

"Can you paint my windows or not?" said Noel, rising to his feet, and
speaking with some asperity. "If you are too busy to undertake the
work pray say so, and let me seek some one else, for my time is
precious."

"Of course he'll do it, sir," said Mrs. Dove. "Say yes to the
gentleman, Dove, and thank him, and have done with it."

"Well, sir, I am very busy," said Dove. "I haven't a moment to call my
own for weeks to come, but all the same, I wouldn't disoblige the late
attics for a good deal, so I'll just put off the Cooks, who are wild
to get their house-cleaning through, and Mr. Martin, who keeps the
bacon and 'am shop, must wait. Yes, sir, I wait your pleasure, sir--I
can come."