“And as was ever a-going to be married to a cook,” said that lady indignantly. “The willin!”

“And leave off his evil ways, and set up in the chandlery line arterwards,” said the housemaid.

“Now, I’ll tell you what it is, young man,” said Mr. Muzzle solemnly, enraged at the last two allusions, “this here lady (pointing to the cook) keeps company with me; and when you presume, Sir, to talk of keeping chandlers’ shops with her, you injure me in one of the most delicatest points in which one man can injure another. Do you understand that, Sir?”

Here Mr. Muzzle, who had a great notion of his eloquence, in which he imitated his master, paused for a reply.