Three to one in such a case is a severe trial to the reason of solitary one.

And Mrs.Lupin's case was peculiar, inasmuch as the more she yielded to Chump-temptation and eased her heart of its load of laughter, the more her heart cried out against her and subscribed to the scorn of her nieces.

Mrs.Chump acted a demon's part; she thirsted for Mrs.Lupin that she might worry her.

Hitherto she had not known that anything peculiar lodged in her tongue, and with no other person did she think of using it to produce a desired effect; but now the scenes in Brookfield became hideous to the ladies, and not wanting in their trials to the facial muscles of the gentlemen.

A significant sign of what the ladies were enduring was, that they ceased to speak of it in their consultations.