"You need not mention that," I replied. "In any case I shall not complain now. I must bear the burden of any mistakes that you make. I am well aware of it."
"I'll tell her to hang them out at the back in future."
"She can hang them where she pleases. I suppose I can bear it. It's only one more trial to bear. One thing goes after another."
"On the contrary," said Eliza, "she's never lost as much as a collar. There's a smut on your nose."
"It can stop there," I said, moodily, and went out into the garden.
THE "CHRISTIAN MARTYR"
The "Christian Martyr" was what is called an engraving, and a very tasteful thing, too, besides being the largest picture we had. It represented a young woman, drowned, floating down a river by night, with her hands tied, and a very pleasing expression on her face. With the frame (maple, and a gilt border inside) it came to three-and-six. I bought it in the Edgware Road on my own responsibility, and carried it home. I thought Eliza would like it, and she did.
"Poor thing!" she said. "You can see she must have been a lady, too. But frightfully dusty!"
"You can't get everything for three-and-six. If you'd been under the counter in a dirty little——"