If it wasn't for wengeance, I'd play at pitch and toss with it on the losing hazard.' 'Is Mrs Varden at home ?' said Mr Chester.
'Sir,' returned Sim, eyeing him over with a look of concentrated expression,--'she is.

Did you wish to see her ?' Mr Chester nodded.
'Then come this way, sir,' said Sim, wiping his face upon his apron.
'Follow me, sir .-- Would you permit me to whisper in your ear, one half a second ?' 'By all means.' Mr Tappertit raised himself on tiptoe, applied his lips to Mr Chester's ear, drew back his head without saying anything, looked hard at him, applied them to his ear again, again drew back, and finally whispered--'The name is Joseph Willet.

Hush! I say no more.' Having said that much, he beckoned the visitor with a mysterious aspect to follow him to the parlour-door, where he announced him in the voice of a gentleman-usher.

'Mr Chester.' 'And not Mr Ed'dard, mind,' said Sim, looking into the door again, and adding this by way of postscript in his own person; 'it's his father.' 'But do not let his father,' said Mr Chester, advancing hat in hand, as he observed the effect of this last explanatory announcement, 'do not let his father be any check or restraint on your domestic occupations, Miss Varden.' 'Oh! Now! There! An't I always a-saying it!' exclaimed Miggs, clapping her hands.

'If he an't been and took Missis for her own daughter.