"He knows well enough that when I'm argufying with my own children (as I've had the expense of bringing up), I expect to have the last word, and I have it.

It's dinner-time, Mr.Johnnie; will you pass me out my pipe?
I don't say but what I may take a whiff while the dinner's dishing up." "It was very useful, Swan," said Gladys.

"No doubt it made Miss Crampton think that Cray smokes." "My word!" exclaimed Swan, "it was as good as a play to see him give himself those meek airs, and look so respectful." He went down, and the two little boys came up.

They had been turned out of Parliament, and had spent the time of their exile in running to the town, and laying out some of their money in the purchase of a present for Crayshaw; they were subject to humble fits of enthusiasm for Crayshaw and Johnnie.

They came in, and handed him a "Robinson Crusoe" with pictures in it.
Crayshaw accepted it graciously.
"You must write my name in it," he observed, with exceeding mildness, "and mind you write it with a soft G." "Yes, of course," said little Hugh, taking in, but hesitating how to obey.
"A hard G is quite wrong, and very indigestible too," he continued, yet more mildly; "though people will persist that it's a capital letter." The young people then began to congratulate themselves on their success as regarded Miss Crampton.
"She scarcely stayed five minutes, and she was so afraid of the machine, and so shocked at the whittling and the talk, and Cray's whole appearance, that she will not come near us while he is here.