"Law!" said she to Mrs. Chester, "did living mortal ever see the like o' the place?"
"What a confused mass of things it is!" was the answer, as Mrs. Chester's eyes went roving around in curiosity.
"He says it isn't. He has the face to tell me everything is in its place, and he could find it in the dark. The great beast there with its round eyes, is a owl that some of 'em caught and killed when they went out moralizing into Herefordshire."
"Not moralizing, Betsy. One of the excursions of the Geological Society----"
"It's all the same," interrupted Mrs. Macpherson; and the professor meekly turned to Mr. Hunter and continued an explanation he was giving him, a sort of earthenware pipe in his hand. The ladies drew near.
"You perceive, Mr. Hunter, there is a small aperture for the passing in of the atmospheric air?"
"That is, there's a hole where the wind goes out," explained the professor's wife.
"By these means, taking the precautions I have previously shown you, the pressure on the valve may be increased to almost any given extent! As a natural consequence----"
"Oh, bother consequences!" cried Mrs. Macpherson; "I'm sure young Robert Hunter don't care to waste his time with that rubbish, when there's cold beef and pickled salmon waiting."
"Just two minutes, Betsy, and Mr. Hunter shall be with you. Perhaps you and Mrs. Chester will oblige us by going on."