"They'll be ample, and—thank you, dear Mrs. Trapes!"
CHAPTER XXIV
HOW THE OLD UN AND CERTAIN OTHERS HAD TEA
"Old Un," said Joe, halting his aged companion in the middle of the second flight to wag a portentous finger, "Old Un, mind this now—if there should 'appen to be cake for tea, don't go makin' a ancient beast of yourself with it—no slippin' lumps of it into your pocket on the sly, mind, because if I ketch ye at it—"
"Don't be 'arsh, Joe, don't be 'arsh! Cake comes soft t' me pore old teef."
"An' mind this again—if there should be any jam about, no stickin' ye wicked old fingers into it an' lickin' 'em behind my back."
"You lemme an' the jam alone, Joe; it's a free country, ain't it?—very well, then!"
"Free country be blowed! You mind what I say, you venerable old bag of iniquity, you!"
"'Niquity yerself!" snarled the Old Un, and snapping bony finger and thumb under Joe's massive chin, turned and went on up the stairs, his smart straw hat cocked at a defiant angle, his brilliant shoes creaking loudly at every step.