"Brimberly, I pass! But if you manage it in--say a week, I'll double
your wages and give you a--er--a bonus into the bargain; think it over."

"I--I will, sir--indeed, sir!"

"Very well; you may go."

"Certingly, sir." Mr. Brimberly bowed and crossed to the door but, being
there, paused. "Double me wages I think it were, sir, _and_ a bonus?
Very 'andsome, very 'andsome indeed, sir--thank you, sir." Saying which,
Mr. Brimberly bowed himself out, but immediately bowed himself in again.

"Sir," said he, "if you could give me some hidea, sir--"

"Some what?"

"A few 'ints, sir, as to the nature of said hobject--whether animal,
mineral, or nooter, sir?"

"Well--perhaps 'animal' might be the more interesting."

"Now--as to gender, sir--masculine shall we say, or shall we make it
feminine?"

"Oh--either will do! And yet, since you offer so wide a selection,
perhaps--er--feminine--?"

"Very good, sir!"