"If you've got anything to say, why don't you say it like a man ?" [Illustration: "If you've got anything to say, why don't you say it like a man ?"] The parlour door opened suddenly before the other could reply, and revealed the face of Mrs.Kybird.

"Wot are you two a-quarrelling about ?" she demanded.

"Why don't you come inside and sit down for a bit ?" Mr.Smith accepted the invitation, and following her into the room found Miss Kybird busy stitching in the midst of a bewildering assortment of brown paper patterns and pieces of cloth.

Mrs.Kybird gave him a chair, and, having overheard a portion of his conversation with her husband, made one or two casual inquiries.
"I've been spending a hour or two at Mr.Swann's," said Mr.Smith.
"And 'ow is 'e ?" inquired his hostess, with an appearance of amiable interest.
The boarding-master shook his head.

"'E's slipping 'is cable," he said, slowly.