Dear, every cloud has its silver lining, and meanwhile what shall we say to a simple fry?
You have an incomparable knack of frying." "But where's the dripping ?" Her husband groaned.
"The dripping! The continual dripping! Am I--forgive the bitterness of the question--but am I a stone, love ?" He asked it with a hollow laugh, and at the same time with a glance challenged Sam's approval for his desperate pleasantry.
Sam jerked his thumb to indicate a wooden out-house on the far side of the yard.
"I got a shanty of my own across there, _and_ a few fixin's.

If the van's anchored here, an' I can set you up with odds-an'-ends such as a saucepan, you're welcome." "A friend in need, sir, is a friend indeed," said the stranger impressively; and Sam's face brightened, for he had heard the proverb before, and it promised to bring the conversation, which he had found some difficulty in following, down to safe, familiar ground.

"Allow me to introduce you--but excuse me, I have not the pleasure of knowing your name--" "Sam Bossom." "Delighted! 'Bossom' did you say?
B--O--double S--it should have been 'Blossom,' sir, with a slight addition; or, with an equally slight omission--er--'Bosom,' if my Arabella will excuse me.

On two hands, Mr.
Bossom, you narrowly escape poetry." (Sam looked about him uneasily.) "But, as Browning says, 'The little more and how much it is, the little less and what miles away.' Mine is Mortimer, sir--Stanislas Horatio Mortimer.

You have doubtless heard of it ?" "Can't say as I 'ave," Sam confessed.
"Is it possible ?" Mr.Mortimer was plainly surprised, not to say hurt.
He knit his brows, and for a moment seemed to be pondering darkly.
"You hear it, Arabella?
But no matter.