Would you be so good as to look at this slip of paper, Mr.Gerard?
If you will kindly ask what it is, you will in a manner help me." I knew but too well what it was.

"The repairs again!" I said resignedly.
"Hand it over, you obstinate old man." Mr.Toller was so tickled by my discovery, and by the cheering prospect consequent on seeing his list of repairs safe in my pocket, that he laughed until I really thought he would shake his lean little body to pieces.

By way of bringing his merriment to an end, I assumed a look of severity, and insisted on knowing how he had offended the Lodger.

My venerable tenant, trembling for his repairs, drifted into a question of personal experience, and seemed to anticipate that it might improve my temper.
"When you have a woman about the house, Mr.Gerard, you may have noticed that she's an everlasting expense to you--especially when she's a young one.

Isn't that so ?" I inquired if he applied this remark to his daughter.
"That's it, sir; I'm talking of Cristy.