"Oh, paw!" exclaimed his eldest daughter deprecatingly.
"I--I beg pardon, Mr. Bullin," stammered Sarkies; "it slipped out."
"Never you come to my house again," continued the elder. "I will bring your scandalous conduct before the next meeting."
Sarkies tried vainly to smile and carry it off with a high hand, but the elder's words attracted a crowd, and their united attention was too much for him. He made an effort, however, to retreat with dignity.
"I don't want--come to y'r'ouse," he said with a sickly smile as he pushed his hat slightly on one side of his head and moved off with an air of apparent unconcern.
At this junction Miss Bullin burst into tears.
"Shame! shame! Lizzie!" exclaimed her sister Laura; but Lizzie was not to be appeased. She wore her heart upon her sleeve, after the manner of some women.
"Oh, my Jimmy!" she cried, and the elder was moved to uncontrollable wrath.
"G'home at once," he shouted, "or I'll Jimmy you--Jimmy, indeed. G'home, you----"
He checked himself, and followed his trembling daughters to his brownberry, for he was a "carriage man."