Mrs.Hayes was absent with Mr.Billings; only Mr.Wood was smoking, according to his wont, in the little back-parlour; and as Mr.Hayes passed, the old gentleman addressed him in a friendly voice, and, wondering that he had been such a stranger, invited him to sit and take a glass of wine.

There was a light and a foreman in the shop; Mr.Hayes gave his injunctions to that person, and saw no objection to Mr.Wood's invitation.
The conversation, at first a little stiff between the two gentlemen, began speedily to grow more easy and confidential: and so particularly bland and good-humoured was Mr., or Doctor Wood, that his companion was quite caught, and softened by the charm of his manner; and the pair became as good friends as in the former days of their intercourse.
"I wish you would come down sometimes of evenings," quoth Doctor Wood; "for, though no book-learned man, Mr.Hayes, look you, you are a man of the world, and I can't abide the society of boys.

There's Tom, now, since this tiff with Mrs.Cat, the scoundrel plays the Grank Turk here! The pair of 'em, betwixt them, have completely gotten the upper hand of you.

Confess that you are beaten, Master Hayes, and don't like the boy ?" "No more I do," said Hayes; "and that's the truth on't.

A man doth not like to have his wife's sins flung in his face, nor to be perpetually bullied in his own house by such a fiery sprig as that." "Mischief, sir,--mischief only," said Wood: "'tis the fun of youth, sir, and will go off as age comes to the lad.