“Nobody wants her to go out,” said his wife.

“Well, then, why does she? Merely out of aggravation. But I won’t have it. If she does, I shall have to wring her neck, that’s all.”

“I’ll look after her; do not put yourself in these tantrums.”

“But you don’t look after her.”

“Yes; I do.”

“I say you don’t. If you had there wouldn’t have been this row. I am sick and tired of speaking about this.”

“She’s in the next room; I’ll give her a good talking to,” observed Mrs. Peace, who was on the point of leaving the parlour.

“Here,” shouted her husband, “take the key of the next room. I’ve locked the self-willed obstinate fool in.”

Mrs. Peace took the key, unlocked the door of the back parlour, and went into the kitchen with Mrs. Thompson.

“She wants a deal of watching, that woman does,” observed our hero. “And if she is not watched, mind you, she’ll most likely get me into a devil of a mess.”