"'Ow's it, Billy?" he said. "You might drop in an' see me this evenin'.
I'm livin' under th' blackberry hedge back o' your stables."

The stout man passed in silence, and with a great show of dignity. Nickie
had a busy afternoon. Evidently it was the dignified lady's "day." Quite
a crowd of people drove up to the gates during the afternoon, and Nickie
entrusted each with an affectionate and familiar message to Jinny. All
were horrified at the insolence of the disgusting man, and one young
fellow kicked Mr. Crips, but our' hero did not seem to mind. He merely
warned his assailant that he would issue a County Court writ for any
damages done to his trousers.

On the following morning at about 11 o'clock Nickie entered the grounds,
his rags fluttering in the breeze, marched to the door and rang the bell.
To the Napoleonic man-servant who opened to him, he gravely presented a
tomato can half-full of water, and said:

"Will yer please arsk Bill or Jinny if they'll be so good as to bile my
billy at the drorin'-room fire. Tell 'em it's Nicholas Crips what makes
the request. No, thanks, I won't come in, I'm afraid my motor car might
bolt."

The Napoleonic man-servant threw Nickie off the verandah, and threw his
billy after him, but this did not deter Nicholas from an attempt to enter
into familiar conversation bearing on family matters, when he found the
dignified lady in a summer house.

The lady glared at him in stony horror. "How dare you?" she ejaculated.
"How dare you?"