"I don't know."

"Here's another pretty kettle o' fish for thee. Who d'ye think's the
bitter weed in our being turned out? Did our party tell 'ee?"

"No. Why, Pa'son Maybold, I suppose."

"Shiner,--because he's in love with thy young woman, and d'want to see
her young figure sitting up at that queer instrument, and her young
fingers rum-strumming upon the keys."

A sharp ado of sweet and bitter was going on in Dick during this
communication from his father. "Shiner's a fool!--no, that's not it; I
don't believe any such thing, father. Why, Shiner would never take a
bold step like that, unless she'd been a little made up to, and had taken
it kindly. Pooh!"

"Who's to say she didn't?"

"I do."

"The more fool you."

"Why, father of me?"

"Has she ever done more to thee?"

"No."

"Then she has done as much to he--rot 'em! Now, Dick, this is how a maid