Traitors, sir! from that fellow Peel upwards--all combined to crush the landed gentry--ruin the Church--betray the country party--D'Israeli--Derby--Free trade--ruined, sir!--Maynooth--Protection--treason--help yourself, and pass the--you know, old fellow--" And Mr.Trebooze's voice died away, and he slumbered, but not softly.
The door opened, and in marched Mrs.Trebooze, tall, tawdry, and terrible.
"Mr.Trebooze! it's past eleven o'clock!" "Hush, my dear madam! He is sleeping so sweetly," said Tom, rising, and gulping down a glass, not of wine, but of strong ammonia and water.

The rogue had put a phial thereof in his pocket that morning, expecting that, as Trebooze had said, he would be required to make a night of it, She was silent; for to rouse her tyrant was more than she dare do.
If awakened, he would crave for brandy and water; and if he got that sweet poison, he would probably become furious.

She stood for half a minute; and Tom, who knew her story well, watched her curiously.
"She is a fine woman: and with a far finer heart in her than that brute.

Her eyebrow and eye, now, have the true Siddons' stamp; the great white forehead, and sharp-cut little nostril, breathing scorn--and what a Siddons-like attitude!--I should like, madam, to see the child again before I go." "If you are fit, sir," answered she.
"Brave woman; comes to the point at once, I am a poor doctor, madam, and not a country gentleman; and have neither money nor health to spend in drinking too much wine." "Then why do you encourage him in it, sir?
I had expected a very different sort of conduct from you, sir." Tom did not tell her what she would not (no woman will) understand; that it is morally and socially impossible to escape from the table of a fool, till either he or you are conquered; and she was too shrewd to be taken in by commonplace excuses; so he looked her very full in the face, and replied a little haughtily, with a slow and delicate articulation, using his lips more than usual, and yet compressing them:-- "I beg your pardon, madam, if I have unintentionally displeased you: but if you ever do me the honour of knowing more of me, you will be the first to confess that your words are unjust.

Do you wish me to see your son, or do you not ?" Poor Mrs.Trebooze looked at him, with an eye which showed that she had been accustomed to study character keenly, perhaps in self-defence.