She said-- "Take care all that toast and water doesn't get into your head, Chris." She said that to vex him, because, ever since he heard that he had water on the brain, Chris is very easily affronted about his head.

He was affronted now, and began to eat his bread-and-butter pudding in silence, Lady Catherine still shaking and laughing.

Then she wiped her eyes, and said-- "Never mind, old man, I'm going to tell you something.

Put the sugar and cream on the table, Chambers, and you needn't wait." The men went out very quietly, and Aunt Catherine went on-- "Where do you think I was yesterday?
In the new barracks--a place I set my face against ever since they began to build it, and spoil one of my best peeps from the Rhododendron Walk.

I went to see a young cousin of mine, who was fool enough to marry a poor officer, and have a lot of little boys and girls, no handsomer than you, Chris." "Are they as handsome ?" said Chris, who had recovered himself, and was selecting currants from his pudding, and laying them aside for a final _bonne bouche_.
"Humph! Perhaps not.