house and home, or almost equivalent to it. Some of their furniture has
been seized this afternoon to satisfy the demand for these disputed
taxes."

"Who disputes the taxes?"

"The tax imposed for the chimes was always a disputed tax; and--"

"Tush!" interrupted the Captain; "Bean owes other things as well as
taxes."

"It was the last feather, sir, which broke the camel's back."

"The last feather will not be taken off, whether it breaks backs or
leaves them whole," retorted the Captain, draining his glass of port and
filling it again. "Take you note of that, Mr. Parson."

"Others are in the same condition as the Beans--quite unable to pay
these rates. I pray you, Captain Monk--I am here to _pray_ you--not to
proceed in the same manner against them. I would also pray you, sir, to
redeem this act of oppression, by causing their goods to be returned to
these two poor, honest, hard-working people."

"Hold your tongue!" retorted the Captain, aroused to anger. "A pretty
example _you'd_ set, let you have your way. Every one of the lot shall
be made to pay to the last farthing. Who the devil is to pay, do you
suppose, if they don't?"

"Rates are imposed upon the parish needlessly, Captain Monk; it has been
so ever since my time here. Pardon me for saying that if you put up