His relict did not care to converse about the dead, save in their practical aspect as ghosts; but she listened, and that passed the time.

By-and-by, the old gentleman rang, and sent a civil message to know if the landlady had ship's rum in the house.
'Dear! here's another trouble,' cried the poor woman.

'No--none!' 'Say, yes,' said Mrs.Mel, and called Dandy, and charged him to run down the street to the square, and ask for the house of Mr.Coxwell, the maltster, and beg of him, in her name, a bottle of his ship's rum.
'And don't you tumble down and break the bottle, Dandy.

Accidents with spirit-bottles are not excused.' Dandy went on the errand, after an energetic grunt.
In due time he returned with the bottle, whole and sound, and Mr.
Coxwell's compliments.

Mrs.Mel examined the cork to see that no process of suction had been attempted, and then said: 'Carry it up to him, Dandy.