Gaffer was not there, but a pretty strong muster of Miss Abbey’s pupils were, who exhibited, when occasion required, the greatest docility. On the clock’s striking ten, and Miss Abbey’s appearing at the door, and addressing a certain person in a faded scarlet jacket, with “George Jones, your time’s up! I told your wife you should be punctual,” Jones submissively rose, gave the company good night, and retired. At half-past ten, on Miss Abbey’s looking in again, and saying, “William Williams, Bob Glamour, and Jonathan, you are all due,” Williams, Bob, and Jonathan with similar meekness took their leave and evaporated. Greater wonder than these, when a bottle-nosed person in a glazed hat had after some considerable hesitation ordered another glass of gin and water of the attendant potboy, and when Miss Abbey, instead of sending it, appeared in person, saying, “Captain Joey, you have had as much as will do you good,” not only did the captain feebly rub his knees and contemplate the fire without offering a word of protest, but the rest of the company murmured, “Ay, ay, Captain! Miss Abbey’s right; you be guided by Miss Abbey, Captain.” Nor, was Miss Abbey’s vigilance in anywise abated by this submission, but rather sharpened; for, looking round on the deferential faces of her school, and descrying two other young persons in need of admonition, she thus bestowed it: “Tom Tootle, it’s time for a young fellow who’s going to be married next month, to be at home and asleep. And you needn’t nudge him, Mr. Jack Mullins, for I know your work begins early tomorrow, and I say the same to you. So come! Good night, like good lads!” Upon which, the blushing Tootle looked to Mullins, and the blushing Mullins looked to Tootle, on the question who should rise first, and finally both rose together and went out on the broad grin, followed by Miss Abbey; in whose presence the company did not take the liberty of grinning likewise.
In such an establishment, the white-aproned potboy with his shirtsleeves arranged in a tight roll on each bare shoulder, was a mere hint of the possibility of physical force, thrown out as a matter of state and form. Exactly at the closing hour, all the guests who were left, filed out in