"What! Will you compel me to chastise you?"

"Well, then, I'll tell him it was all your doin's."

"I shall tell him so myself. I shall remonstrate with him. The idea of his
coming home alone at this time of night with an unknown female!"

"One would think you was his aunt, to hear you talk," remarked the girl
sullenly.

"I am a respecterble woman and most respecterbly connected. My character and
antercedents render me irrerproachful.--This could not be said of a hussy, and
a hussy he'll probably bring--some flighty, immerture female that will tax
even MY patience to train."

Another hour passed, and the frown on Mrs. Mumpson's brow grew positively
awful. "To think," she muttered, "that a man whom I have deemed it my duty to
marry should stay out so and under such peculiar circumstances. He must have
a lesson which he can never forget." Then aloud, to Jane, "Kindle a fire on
the parlor hearth and let this fire go out. He must find us in the most
respecterble room in the house--a room befitting my station."

"I declare, mother, you aint got no sense at all!" exclaimed the child,
exasperated beyond measure.

"I'll teach you to use such unrerspectful language!" cried Mrs. Mumpson,
darting from her chair like a hawk and pouncing upon the unhappy child.

With ears tingling from a cuffing she could not soon forget, Jane lighted the