"Pugh!" said I, "but that's not the business that I ail."

Says Cary, says he, "I've been a servant this five-and-twenty years come spring,

And in all the places I lived I never heard of such a thing."

"Yes," says the Steward, "I remember, when I was at my Lady Shrewsbury's,

Such a thing as this happen'd, just about the time of gooseberries."

So I went to the party suspected, and I found her full of grief,

(Now, you must know, of all things in the world I hate a thief,)

However, I was resolved to bring the discourse slily about:

"Mrs. Dukes," said I, "here's an ugly accident has happen'd out:

'Tis not that I value the money three skips of a mouse;