ut he never succeeded, for the simple reason that he listened to every one's excuses; and not underst

thin a biscuit-heave of my front door, and other things-I forget their names-with he

er, was in the habit of replying; "and small blame to you, in my opinion, af

here, just in front of the house and the windows. I don't mind a few in the kitchen-ga

though I don't pretend to say how far true it may be, that all the land of England is to be cultivated for the public good, same as on the con

ust I tell you, Swipes, that I hate that Jacobin association? Can you tell me of one seaman belonging to it? A set of fish-jobbers, and men with barrows, and cheap-jacks from up the country. Not one of my tenants would b

he work there is upon this place, the Lord only knows when I may be requiring of it. Ah! I nev

however, of Mr. Swipes were not to be appeased so lightly, but demanded the immediate satisfaction of a pint of beer. And so large was his

Cloam, the housekeeper, who had all the keys at her girdle, about t

o short of breath, "how you did exaggerate my poor narves, a

r, with the scythe beside his ear. "It don't consarn what the masters say, though enough to t

t turning things. And how much did he say you was to ha

small beer now. Ah! I know the time when I would no more have thought of rounding of my mouth for such small stuff than of your growing up, ma'am, to be a young woman with the sponsorship of this big place upon you

ith the three beef-eaters on it, and go to the third cask from the door-the key turns upside down, mind-and let me hear you whistle

leetle drop in crystal for yourself, and then for my business, which is to inquire after your poor dear health to-day. Blooming as you are, ma'am, you must bear in mind that beauty is only skin-deep, Mrs. Cloam; and the purtier a

oes of the Nile, indeed, and bucklers of the country! Why, he could not buckle his own shoe, and Jenny Shanks had to do it for him. Not that I blame him for having one arm, and a brave man he is to have lost it, but that

s pot. "Men's heads was made for it, but not women's, till they come to superior statio

have the very best of everything, likewise all who have fought up to it. But to make all the things and have nothing made of

e, ma'am? He hath looked out over the garden when he pleased, and this time of year no weeds is up, and he don't know enough of things to think nothing

g I'm sure of-he was quite up to Miss Dolly, and the way she carries on wit

at did we go to church for? I can't speak for you, ma'am, being ever so much younger, and a baby in the gallery in long clothes, if b

le-base in his hand, and the only clean shirt of the week on his back, and nothing but a plank of pitch to keep him, however good-looking he may be, to be looking at the daughter, and the prettiest one too, thoug

was a little chit, where would proud Miss Dolly be, with her feathers and her furbelows? Natur' is the thing I holds by, and I sees a deal of it. And betwixt you and me and the bedpost, ma'am, whoever hath Miss Dolly will have to ride to London on this here scythe. Miss Faith is the lass for a good quiet man, without no airs and graces, and to my judgment every bit as comely,

lowers, a quarter so often as pretty Dolly does, perhaps you wouldn't make such a perfect angel of her, and run down her sister in comparison. But your wonderful Miss Faith comes peeping here and poking there into pots and pans, and asking the maids how their mothers are, as if h

he tool-house and stoke-hole and vinery! The pretty dear! the pretty dear! And such a lady as she is! Ah, you women are hard-hearted to one another, when your mi