The bell rang twice before she could say the chops were ready.

The first time, the maid had to tell the old gentleman she was taking up his water.

Her next excuse was, that she had dropped her candle.

The chops ready--who was to take them?
'Really, Mrs.Harrington, you are so clever, you ought, if I might be so bold as say so; you ought to end it yourself,' said the landlady.

'I can't ask him to eat them: he was all but on the busting point when I left him.' 'And that there candle did for him quite,' said Mary, the maid.
'I'm afraid it's chops cooked for nothing,' added the landlady.
Mrs.Mel saw them endangered.