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discussion,’ why then it would seem desirable that ‘i the
dear old creatures should be taken by- their heads and
shoulders and brought into it. - H ’ H ’ A - ‘ 5‘
'v“ But is not my husband saying in effect,” asked Mrs.‘
Lammle, therefore, with an innocentdlir, of ’Mr. and
Mrs‘. Boliin, ‘”that he becomes 'unmindful' of his own
temporary misfortunes in his admiration of another whom
he is burning to serve? '%And is not that making an ad-
mission I that rhislnaturei is a ‘generous tone? i sl--ain.
wretched in argument, butisurely this is so,‘ dear -Mr.‘
and Mrs. Boflin?” - ,
Still, neither Mr. nor Mrs.-Bofiin said a word. He sat
with his eyes on his plate, eating his muffins and ham,
and she sat shyly looking at the teapot. Mrs. Lammle’s
innocent appeal was merely thrown into the air, to min-
gle with the steam of the urn.. Glancing towards Mr. and
Mrs. Boiiin, she very slightly, raised her eyebrowskas
though inquiring of her husband: “Do I noticeiany-
thingrwrong here?-” 1, '- N i‘ . i 1 w - it
< Mr. Lammle, who had found his chest effective on a
variety of occasions, rnanoauvrcd his‘ capacious shirt
front into the largest demonstration possible, and then
smiling retorted on his wife,‘ thus : ‘ ‘ ” ' -
“Sophronia, darling, Mr."and Mrs. Boilin-williremind
you of the old adage, that self-praise is no recommenda-
tion." , . . M. , - ; v
" Self-praise, Alfred? Do you mean because we are
oneandthesame?” V "V ‘ -3: v ;'
N “ No, my dear child. Imean that you cannot fail to
remember, if you reflect for a single moment, that’ what
you are pleased toicompliment me upon feeling in the
case of Mr. Bofiin, you have yourself confided to?me as
your own feeling in the'case of Mrs. Boflin.” I ' . J
I’ (“I shalllbe beaten by. this'Laivyer,’i Mrs. Lammle
gaily whispered to Mrs. Boiiin. - “I am afraid I must ad-
mit it, if he presses me, for it’s damagingly true.”) . ii
Several white dints began to come and go about Mr.
Lammle’s nose, as he observed that Mrs. Bofiin merely
looked up from the teapot for a moment with an embar-
rassed smile, which was no smile, and then looked down
again. ‘ v u i V i '
“ Do you admit the charge, Sophronia? ’7 inquired Al-
fred, ina rallying tone. - y ‘ .l ii‘ "
"Really, I think,” said Mrs. Lammle, still-gaily, “I
must throw myself on the protection’ of 3 the Court- Am
I bound to answer that question, my Lord?” r:To Mr.
BOIIID. .‘i'...v imv. : f 3
I ' “You needn’t if you‘-don’t"like, ma’am,”. was his an-
swer. . -“It's not of the least consequence”. 2 i.
’ Both husband and-wife: lanced at him, very doubt-
fully. His manner was grave,‘-but not. coarse, and :de-
rived some dignity from a certain repressed dislike of the
tone oi‘ the conversation. ' ‘ 5‘ ' I ' ’ ' 3 ’
' Again Mrs. Lammle raised her eyebrows for instruc-
tion from her husband. -‘He replied in'a slight nod
“Try’emagain.” H 2" v ‘ =, i i ’
“To protect myself against the suspicion ofcovcrt
self-laudation, my dear Mrs. Botiin,” said. the airy Mrs.
Lammle therefore, “I must tell you how it was.” i . . '
‘-“ No.‘ "Pray don’t,” Mr‘BolIin interposed. r . .
Mrs. Lammle turned to him laughingly. ‘ “The Com-t
objegs?’’.;4 ; , i,,.,,v,,,, ‘
“ a’am, ’ said Mr. Boflin,"“the Court i ‘
Court) does object. The Court objects for iiiolrzhzotrig
First, because the Court don't think it fair. ‘ Secondly
because the dear old lady,‘ Mrs. Court (if I am Mr.) gets
distressedbyit.” W it .
A very remarkable wavering between two bearings;
between her propitiatory bearing there, and her defiant
hearing at =Mr. Twcmlow’s'-was observable on the part
of Mrs. Lammle as she said : “ What does the Court not
considerfair?” ' i W ' -3 - ' ' i . . : .
‘ -“ Letting you goon,” replied Mr. Boiiin, nodding his
head soothingly, as who should say, VVe-won't be harder
onvyou than we can’ help; we’ll make the bestvof it.
“It’s not above-board and it’s notfair.’ iVhen the old
lady is unconifortable,there’s sure to be good reason forit.
I see she is uncomfortable, and I plainly see this is the
good reason wherefore. Have you breakfasted, ina’am?”
Mrs. Lammle, settling into her defiant manner, pushed
her plate‘awav, looked at her husband, and laughed
3
but by no means gaily.
CHARLES‘ ‘DIC’KENS.’- WORKS.
“ Have you breakfasted, siri’? inquired Mr. Boiiiu.
A “ Thank you,” replied Alfred,' showing all his teeth.
“ If Mrs. Botfin will oblige me,rI’llrtake.another, cup of
tea”, Ni -' ... . ., . ‘yr. ,,
He spilled a little of it over the chest’-which.ought to
havebeen so efIective,‘and which had done solittle ; but
on the whole drank it with something of an air, though
the coming and going dints. got almostas large, the
while,‘as if they had been made by pressure. of the tea-
spoon. “ A thousand .tlianks,”.he then observed. “I
have breakfasted." I’ wv - - 1 I 1 I - =
"Now, which,” said Mr.‘ Boiiin-softly. taking out a
pocketbook, “ which of you two is Cashier? ’? . v
‘ “.Sophronia, my dear,”.remarkcd -her husband, as he
leaned back in his chair, waving his right hand towards
her, while he hung his left hand by tho.thumb.in the
arm-hole -of his waistcoat: f‘ it shall be your depart-
ment.” ,. H...
v- “ I‘ would rather," said Mr. Bofiin, ‘fthat it was your
husband’s, ma’am, because-but never mind, because. I
would rather have to do with him. However, what I
have to say, I will say with as little offence as possible ;
if I can say it without any, I shall be heartily glad. You
two have done me a service, a. very. great service, in do-
ing what you did (my old lady knows .what it was), and
I have put into this envelope :1 banknote for a hundred
pound. I consider the service well worth a hundred
pound,‘ and I amwell pleased topay the money. VVould
you do me the favour tovtake it, and likewise .to accept
mythanks?” -- V ‘ - -- - - '-
v-uVVith a haughty action, and without-looking towards
him, Mrs.’ Lammle held out her leftxhand; and into it Mr.
Botiin put the little.packet.. nVVhen shehad conveyed it
to her bosom, Mr. Lammle had the appearance of feeling
relieved;-and breathing more freely, as not having been
quite certain that the hundred pounds were his, until the
note had been safely transferred out of Mr. Botiin’skeep-
ing into his own Sophronia’s. ' i H .
“ It is not impossible,” said Mr. Boiiin, addressing
Alfred, " that you have had some general idea, sir, of re-
placing Rokesmith, incourse of time??? ' ' - ' ,
. -“ It is not,” assented Alfred, with a glittering smile
and a great deal of nose, “ not impossible." w:
“And perhaps, ma'an1,’3 pursued Mr.'Boiiin, address-
ing Sophronia, i“ you have been so kind as to take up my
old lady in your own mind, and to do her the. honour of
turning the uestion over whether you mightn"t one of
these days iave her in charge, like? :'Whether 3'0“
mightn’t-be a sort of Miss Bella VVi1fer to her, and some-
thing more?” . . ‘ . .1. ‘AH , . -
' -“ I should hope,” returned Mrs. Lammle, with a scorn-
fnl look and in a loud voice, " that if .I were .any’tl13D8'
to your wife, sir, I coulddiardly fail to be-something
more than Miss Bella lVilfer, as you call hen”. “ . .
..“ VVhat do you call her, ma’am?” asked Mr. Botiirh
: Mrs. Lammle disdained to reply, and sat deiiantly beat-
ingone foot on tho ground. ,, .., ,..; I :1 - -
. “Again I think I may say, that’s not impossible; IS
it, sir?” asked Mr. Boiiin, turning to Alfred." .,.- i
“ It is not,” said Alfred, smiling assent as before, 5‘ I10‘
impossible.” . r. ., .. ,' . ;r.: ,
. ‘f Now,” said Mr. Bofiin, gently, ‘F it won't do. -I don‘
wish to say a single word that might be afterwards re-
membered as unpleasant ; but it won’t do.”- . U - I
- ‘.‘ Sophronia,‘ my love,” her husband repeated in a ban‘
tering manner, " you hear?1 It wonlt do.”. - r w .
"N03 said Mr. Bollin, with his voice still drop ed. 5‘ ll
really Won't. '- You positively must excuseius. .- f-Y0“’ll
go your way, we’ll go ours, and so I hope this affair. ends
to the satisfaction of all parties.” < z. . -.L.= ‘ = ,
‘ ' Mrs. -Lammle gave him the look of a decidedly d'LSSat’5'
tied party demanding exemption from the category ; but
saidnothing. w. w ..,. i M '
“ The best thing we can make of the affair,”.said.Mr'-
Bofiin, “is a matter of business, and as ii. matter of,buSl-
ness We brought to zrconclusion. ' You have done.m9.3
great service, a very great service, and Ihave paid for 1'!-
Is there any objection to the price?’.’ w '1 A '
> Mr. and Mrs. Lammle looked at one another across the
table, but neither could say that there was. . Mrulga-P1‘
mle shrugged his shoulders, and Mrs. Lammle sat HEM‘
V. “Veryigood,” said Mr. Boliin.2: 1‘ We hope (I117 01