"I don't want you," said Ben; "but as you are here, let's make an end of all differences, and have a pint together."
"A pint?"
"Yes, to be sure. By the look of your nose, I should say it knows pretty well what a pint is."
"Oh, dear—man is sinful alway. I bear no malice, and if the truly right-minded and pious Mrs. Oakley was only here, we might drink down all differences, Mr. a—a—"
"Ben."
"Mr. Ben. Thank you, sir."
"Oh, Mr. Lupin," cried Mrs. Oakley, at this moment bursting into the parlour. "Is it possible that you can give your mind in this way to the Philistines? Is not this backsliding?"
"Let us hope for the best, sister," said Mr. Lupin, with an evangelical twang. "Let us hope for the best. If people will drink, they had much better drink with the saints, who may take some favourable opportunity of converting them, than with sinners."
"Sit down, mum," said Ben, "and let's bury all animosities in the can. Easy does it. Don't you go, Johanna."
"Yes, but, Ben, I—"