"'Well, what luck?' asked the daughter of penury.
"'Old Pursimmons has refused, and I'—
"'And you!!'—
"'Must'—
"'Must?'—
"'Support myself!!!'
"It was too much. The daughter of penury fainted, the crushed husband sniffed aloud, and the landlady knocked at the door for the week's board.
"As this agonizing picture of human misery faded away, old Pursimmons turned with an inaudible groan to Mr. Pepper's Ghost:
"'And I,' said he,—'and I am the cause of this woe?'
"The spectre silently and solemnly nodded an awful affirmative, and waved its hand for another scene.