2/18 I mean if she is not a stranger, and if she would like to see me." "No new-comers here," Mr.Stixon replied; "we all works our way up regular, the same as my lad is beginning for to do. New-fangled ways is not accepted here. We puts the reforming spirits scrubbing of the steps till their knuckles is cracked and their knees like a bean. The old lord was the man for discipline--your grandfather, if you please, miss. He catched me when I were about that high--" "Excuse me, Mr.Stixon; but would he have encouraged you to talk as you so very kindly talk to me, instead of answering a question ?" I thought that poor Stixon would have been upset by this, and was angry with myself for saying it; but instead of being hurt, he only smiled and touched his forehead. |