"You go upstairs and amuse yourself looking for'em.

Go and have a game of 'hot boiled beans' all by yourself." "Why, you must have been stinting me for years," continued Mr.Vickers, examining the various costumes in detail.

"This is what comes o' keeping quiet and trusting you--not but what I've 'ad my suspicions.

My own kids taking the bread out o' my mouth and buying boots with it; my own wife going about in a bonnet that's took me weeks and weeks to earn." [Illustration:"'Why, you must have been stinting me for years,' continued Mr.Vickers."] His words fell on deaf ears.

No adjutant getting his regiment ready for a march-past could have taken more trouble than Miss Vickers was taking at this moment over her small company.