to please 'em, an' the Honorubble Frederic a-dammin' about the 'ouse
fit to make your flesh creep. An' that though he might 'ave ate his
dinner off the floor, gold studs an' all, as I told 'un at last.
For 'twasn't in flesh and blood, sir--not to be ordered this way an'
that by a whipper-snapper whose gran'mother I might 'a been, though
he _'as_ got three rows o' shiny buttons on 'is stummick, which is no
cause for a proud carriage toward them as 'asn't, nor callin' 'em
slow-coaches and names which I won't soil my tongue wi'--an' so I
said. Aw dear! aw dear!" And here Mrs. Snell's passion again found
vent in violent sobs and cries.

"Hush! Confound it! Hush! I tell you. You'll have the whole town
out."

"I beg your pardon, sir--boo-hoo!--but it isn't in natur', sich
wickedness in 'igh places, an' pore Maria sick at 'ome wi' the colic
an' a leak in the roof you might put your cocked 'at through, an'
very fine it looks, sir, beggin' your parding agen, which is all
vexashun o' sperrit on a shillin' a day an' your vittles, let alone
bein' swore at 'till you dunno whether you be 'pon your 'ed or your
'eels."

With this Mrs. Snell picked up her bundle and marched off down the
road. She was quite hopeless, the Admiral determined, as he watched
her retreating figure and heard her sobs borne back to him on the
evening air. Well, well! it had been another reverse--but not a
defeat. His face cleared again as he turned to re-enter the house.

"Let me see: to-morrow is Sunday. They will probably be at church.
In the afternoon, though it involve the loss of my usual nap, I will