Scull. It will form a very elegant little volume altogether,—the most remarkable publication of the day.
Miss C. Well, after my wet walk, I think I’d be the better for something to warm me.
Nell. You shall have some tea directly, Ma’am.
Miss C. Tea! Wishy-washy stuff!
Nell. Would you prefer gruel?
Miss C. Gruel! I wish you joy of your fare!
Nell. [Aside.] The fair Arithmetician looks as though she would not have 3 Scruples to a Dram!
Cramp. I dare say Miss Cob is fatigued after her long walk. Nelly, show her the apartment. I hope everything is comfortable there.
Nell. Certainly, Papa. [Aside to Wriggle.] At any rate, I will venture to say that her room is better than her company. [Exeunt Nelly and Miss Cob.]
And so on,—the wind-up of the story being that Miss Cob is found to be a burglar in woman’s disguise; while the artist is a harmless nobody. But elderly Wriggles, the tutor, who has lived quietly in the house for a month past, and of whom even Mr. Cramp has had no suspicions, turns out to be the much dreaded nephew, and to him by right Grimhaggard Hall now appertains. As, however, he has managed to fall deeply in love with the punning heroine, all difficulties are solved by their marriage,—Nellie being equally in love with him. Thus the nephew gains the old home, and the uncle does not lose it.