"Good morning, Mrs. Grey," began he, taking up a position so as to command a view of the whole road by which the enemy, in the shape of his wife, should first come in sight on her way home.
"The same to you," replied she civilly, and was passing on, when—
"I've tried the charm, Ma'am," said Matthew, mysteriously.
"The what?" asked she sharply.
"The charm, Mrs. Grey. The box with the gravel in it, that you give me."
"True, I had forgotten. What was the result?"
"If you mean what good did it do, why then it just did no good at all," said Matthew, sorrowfully.
"How often have you tried it?"
"Twice, Ma'am, I'm proud to say; and a hard matter I found it, going so nigh the Public, that I could most smell the baccy, and hear the drawing of the beer; but there I stuck to the 'structions yer give me, and turned back home agin, but only to hear my wife's tongue going faster and sharper than ever."