"Yes, the more I look at you, the more I see it," and Ralph looked so earnestly, at the woman, that Percy had the greatest difficulty in preventing himself going off into a shout of laughter.
"I wonder I have never seen you, at Holzhausen," Ralph continued.
"Well," the woman said, "it is years since I have been there. You see, it is a long way, and my sister often comes into Wiesbaden, and I see her; but in truth, her husband and I don't get on very well together. You know his temper is--" and she lifted up her hands.
"Yes, indeed," Ralph said. "His temper is, as you say, terrible. Between ourselves, it is so well known that we have a saying, 'As bad tempered as Klopstock the carpenter.' One can't say more than that--
"But we are at Wiesbaden. Good morning."
"Good morning. I hope your uncle's tooth will be better, ere long."
"I hope so, indeed, for all our sakes," Ralph said. "He is as bad as Klopstock, at present."
So saying, they got out of the train and walked into the town. When they had separated from the crowd, Percy could restrain himself no longer, and went off into a scream of laughter.
"What is it, Mister Percy?" Tim asked, opening his lips for the first time since they had left the house.
"Oh, Tim, if you had but heard!" Percy said, when he recovered his voice. "Do you know you are as bad tempered as Klopstock, the carpenter?"