well --I hope you understand the theatrical significance of that term,
suh. He is motheh, fatheh, guardeen, and dry nurse to every stick, stone,
and brick, every piece of wood, brass, or rubbah, every inch of hose, and
every man _and_ Irishman on these premises." Taylor had turned an
embarrassed brick red. "Mr. Keith," went on the dark youth, explanatorily,
"was just sayin' that though he had inspected carefully many fire
equipments, per'fessional and amateur, he had nevah feasted his eyes
on so complete an outfit as that of our Monumentals."

Keith had not said all this, but possibly he had meant it. The brick-red,
stocky little man was so plainly embarrassed and anxious to depart that
Keith racked his brains for something to say. All he could remember was the
manufacturer's nameplate on the machine downstairs.

"I see you have selected the Hunaman engine, sir," said he. The little
man's eye brightened.

"It may be, sir, that you favour the piano-box type--of the sort made by
Smith or Van Ness?" he inquired politely.

"It is a point on which my opinion is still-suspended," replied Keith with
great gravity.

The little man moved nearer, and his shyness fell from him.

"Oh, but really there is no choice, none whatever!" he cried. "I'm sure,
sir, I can convince you in five minutes. I assure you we have gone into the
subject thoroughly--this Hunaman cost us over five thousand dollars; and
you may be certain we went very thoroughly into the matter before making
the investment----"