“‘’Tis the way I must have the Devil for a guardian angel, I’m thinking,’ ses Matty, ‘because I am never out of trouble, God help me.’
“‘There are many like you, I am glad to say,’ ses the Gaekwar, ‘and we are always pleased to find others worse off than ourselves. ’Tis the only compensation we have for being either unfortunate or foolish. Howsomever, come in out of the cold, and we will talk the matter over. But,’ ses he, ‘you must excuse the untidy condition of the house. The painters and plumbers are working here, and if you know anything at all, you must know what a mess they can make, especially the plumbers.’
“‘Indeed, I do,’ ses Matty. ‘But you needn’t make any apologies. I am a man after your own heart and just as humble and maybe as foolish, if not more so.’
“‘Nevertheless,’ ses the Gaekwar, ‘I don’t believe ‘twould ever occur to me to call on yourself either at the dead of night or the middle of the broad day.’
“‘I don’t believe it would,’ ses Matty.
“‘Howsomever,’ ses he, ‘make yourself comfortable while I’ll run up-stairs, and put on my clothes.’
“So Matty drew his chair to the fire, and when the Gaekwar returned, dressed in his new suit and clean collar, Matty ses: ‘How is herself and the children?’
“‘The children are all right, thank God,’ ses the Gaekwar, ‘but I am nearly worried to death about herself.’
“‘And what’s the matter with her?’ ses Matty.
“‘Oh,’ ses the Gaekwar, ‘I don’t know. She seems to be perfectly happy and contented, and no longer loses her temper, or finds fault with any body or anything.’