And John, you must know, he'd take anything! But I came in to tell you supper's ready; and, if you like, I'll bring you something in here, and you can eat it on that table, or--" Here I interrupted my good hostess, and declared that, while I should be glad to have some supper, I would not eat any unless I might sit down with her husband and herself; and, as this proposition seemed to please her, the three of us were soon seated around a very tastefully furnished table in a dining-room looking out upon a pretty lawn.

The rain had now almost ceased, and from the window I could see beautiful stretches of grass, interspersed with ornamental trees and flower-beds.
The meal was plain but abundant, with an appetizing smell pervading it which is seldom noticed in connection with the tables of the rich.
When we had finished supper I found that the skies had nearly cleared and that it was growing quite light again.

I asked permission to step out upon a little piazza which opened from the dining-room and smoke a pipe, and while I was sitting there enjoying the beauty of the sunlight on the sparkling grass and trees I again heard the little man and his wife talking to each other.
"It can't be done," said he, speaking very positively.

"I've orders about that, and there's no getting round them." "It's got to be done!" said she, "and there's an end of it! The clothes won't be dry until morning, and it won't do to put them too near the stove, or they'll shrink so he can't get them on.

And he can't go away to hunt up lodgings wearing the Duke's dressing-gown and them yellow breeches!" "Orders is orders," said the man, "and unless I get special leave, it can't be done." "Well, then, go and get special leave," said she, "and don't stand there talking about it!" There was no doubt that my lodging that night was the subject of this conversation, but I had no desire to interfere with the good intentions of my hostess.