I had to shelter under the wood-shed, it was peppering so." "Collect your basins!" interjected Mrs.Jones.

"Where from ?" "I put them out with scraps for the cats." "The cats must be well off in your quarter; better than some children in others," was the rejoinder, delivered with an unnecessary amount of spite.

"What makes you so out of breath ?" she tartly asked.
"I had a bit of a fright," said the woman, simply.

"My breath seems to get affected at nothing of late, Lydia." "A pity but you'd your hands full of work, as mine are: that's the best remedy for fright," said Mrs.Jones sarcastically.

"What might your fright have been, pray ?" "I was standing, waiting to dart over here, when I saw a man come across the waste land and make for Pike's shed," said Mrs.Gum, looking at her husband.