soft-hearted Mrs. Knuckledown; "don't 'e tell on her, the poor young

thing. If her hath been carrying on a bit with some of them young

hofficers, why, it's only natteral, and her such a young booty. Don't 'e

be Dick-tell-tale, with a name to it, or without. And perhaps her never

said half the things that Charles hath contributed to her." The truth

was that poor Dolly had said scarcely one of them.

"Bain't no young hofficer," Mr. Swipes replied, contemptuously; "ten

times wuss than that, and madder for the Admiral. Give me that paper,

Miss, and then, perhaps, I'll tell 'e. Be no good to you, and might be

useful to me."

Mary could not give up the paper, because it was a letter from one of

her adorers, which, with the aid of Jenny Shanks, she had interpreted.

"No, no," she said, with a coaxing look; "by-and-by, Mr. Swipes, when

you have told me who it is, and when you have promised not to tell on

poor Miss Dolly. But nobody sha'n't see it, without your permission.

We'll have another talk about that to-morrow. But, oh my! look at the

time you have kept me, with all the good things to make a hangel's

mouth water! Bring me two cauliflowers in two seconds. My beef will want

basting long ago; and if Dandy hathn't left his job, he'll be pretty

well roasted hisself by now."

Mr. Swipes went muttering up the walk, and was forced to cut two of the

finest cauliflowers intended for Cheeseman's adornment to-morrow. This

turned his heart very sour again, and he shook his head, growling in

self-commune: "You see if I don't do it, my young lady. You speaks again

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