The last words I heard, through the screams of the baby, as I ascended the stairs, were words still relating to the week's prodigal consumption of sandpaper.

Let us drop a tear, if you please, over the woes of Mrs.Finch, and leave the British matron apostrophizing domestic economy in the odorous seclusion of her own storeroom.
I had just related to Lucilla the failure of my expedition to the other side of the house, when the groom returned, bringing with him the gold vase, and a letter.
Oscar's answer was judiciously modeled to imitate the brevity of Lucilla's note.

"You have made me a happy man again.

When may I follow the vase ?" There, in two sentences, was the whole letter.
I had another discussion with Lucilla, relating to the propriety of our receiving Oscar in Reverend Finch's absence.

It was only possible to persuade her to wait until she had at least heard from her father, by consenting to take another walk towards Browndown the next morning.