“What letters were they?” said the General.
“A Hee and a B, sir.”
“Eliezer Burr,” said the Doctor loudly. “Hah!” and he took off his gold-rimmed spectacles, rubbed them, and began to beam.
“Should you—” began my uncle.
“No, no, no, Seaborough; allow me,” said the General. “My turn. I was coming to that. Now, Polly, be careful, and don’t say anything rash, because this is very serious.”
“Oh yes, Sir Orkus.”
“Dear me, Doctor,” said the General apologetically, “I am sorry we have no h’s here.”
“Pray go on, Sir Hawkhurst,” said the Doctor, smiling, and aspirating both in the name forcibly.
“Now, Polly, should you know that watch?”
“Oh yes, Sir Orkus; both the hands were together at twelve o’clock, and the glass was a bit scratched, and I told him I didn’t believe he came by the watch honest, and that if ever he dared to come near the place again to want me to accept his rubbish, I’d take father’s gun down out of the slings and give him a charge of shot in his legs.”