life could I have spoken other than respectfully to a master I loved so
well--that if a message were to be delivered _viva voce_ from our
office, it could not be so delivered by me.

I mentioned the fact that I felt no desire to be kicked downstairs. I
declared that I should consider it an unseemly thing for me to engage in
personal conflict with a gentleman of Colonel Morris's years and social
position, and, as a final argument, I stated solemnly that I believed no
number of interviews would change the opinions of our late tenant or
induce him to alter his determination.

"He says he will fight," I remarked, as a finish to my speech, "and I am
confident he will till he drops."

"Well, well," said Mr. Craven, "I suppose he must do so then; but
meantime it is all very hard upon me."

And, indeed, so it proved; what with Miss Blake, who, of course,
required frequent advances to sustain her strength during the
approaching ordeal; what with policemen, who could not "undertake to be
always a-watching River Hall"; what with watchmen, who kept their vigils
in the nearest public-house as long as it was open, and then peacefully
returned home to sleep; what with possible tenants, who came to us
imagining the place was to let, and whom we referred to Colonel Morris,
who dismissed them, each and all, with a tale which disenchanted them
with the "desirable residence"--it was all exceeding hard upon Mr.
Craven and his clerks till the quarter turned when we could take action
about the matter.

Before the new year was well commenced, we were in the heat of the