Put them all solemnly on their guard down to Lucy, _aetat_ five, that they were _morituri_ and _ae,_ and must be pleased to abstain from "insolent gladness" upon his return.
"Sweet are the uses of adversity!" continued this cheerful monitor.
"If we had not been hard up this while, we should not come with a full relish to meat three times a week, which, unless I am an ass (and I don't see myself in that light)," said Triplet dryly, "will, I apprehend, be, after this day, the primary condition of our future existence." "James, take the picture with you," said Mrs.Triplet, in one of those calm, little, desponding voices that fall upon the soul so agreeably when one is a cock-a-hoop, and desires, with permission, so to remain.
"What on earth am I to take Mrs.Woffington's portrait for ?" "We have nothing in the house," said the wife, blushing.
Triplet's eye glittered like a rattlesnake's.
"The intimation is eccentric," said he.

"Are you mad, Jane?
Pray," continued he, veiling his wrath in scornful words, "is it requisite, heroic, or judicious on the eve, or more correctly the morn, of affluence to deposit an unfinished work of art with a mercenary relation?
Hang it, Jane! would you really have me pawn Mrs.Woffington to-day ?" "James," said Jane steadily, "the manager may disappoint you, we have often been disappointed; so take the picture with you.

They will give you ten shillings on it." Triplet was one of those who see things roseate, Mrs.Triplet lurid.
"Madam," said the poet, "for the first time in our conjugal career, your commands deviate so entirely from reason that I respectfully withdraw that implicit obedience which has hitherto constituted my principal reputation.

I'm hanged if I do it, Jane!" "Dear James, to oblige me!" "That alters the case; you confess it is unreasonable ?" "Oh, yes! it is only to oblige me.
"Enough!" said Triplet, whose tongue was often a flail that fell on friend, foe and self indiscriminately.

"Allow it to be unreasonable, and I do it as a matter of course--to please you, Jane." Accordingly the good soul wrapped it in green baize; but to relieve his mind he was obliged to get behind his wife, and shrug his shoulders to Lysimachus and the eldest girl, as who should say _voila bien une femme votre mere a vous!_ At last he was off, in high spirits.